#the christmas plant thing was very intriguing

[amelia-yap]

Merry Christmas!

On this day, I wish Weiss the fortunate accident of falling face-first into Ruby's chest (in an admittedly lesbian but cute way), and for you to find the Joy of Whiterose renewed on this day of red flowers and white snow.

(not sure about over there but here we have a Christmas-y plant we call "Christmas star," we gift it as Christmas approaches. The flowers have large, blood-red, yet very soft petals. Ruby is totally Weiss's Christmas star)

sksjsjksjksj that's lovely, merr christmas anon! have a picture of the girls being cozy

they have their festive hats on!

[eclectic-sassycoweyes]

❄️Catch Me Before I Let Go❄️

A teaser of my coming 🎁 for the wonderful @ironheartwriter for the Tarlos Secret Santa gift exchange!

Dearest Lana - it’s me I’m your Santa in Secret (no more)!! I don’t regret to inform you of that, because it has been an absolute delight so far to think up something wintery and fun for you from the prompts you gave me! I do regret to inform you however, that I am running a bit behind😔

The Christmas Chaos simply caught up with me with unexpected intensity and I’ve had to ask the wonderful mods for an extension. I am doing my very best to be able to give you the fic in it’s finished form before New Year’s Eve!! To make up for it, and to hold you over until then, I have prepared this teaser for you including the above collage/mood board, and below a summary and a lil’ snippet to gift you on my posting day<3 I hope brings you both intrigue and enjoyment!

Best wishes for a happy holiday,

Your very own Secret (no more) Santa,

Mar💚🥰🤶

Summary:

As a former member of the school swim team and someone who generally likes to be in charge of whether his feet are moving or not, Carlos Reyes prefers water in its liquid form. As such, a ski resort should not be on his top ten spots to visit. He’s insistent to make an exception though, in order to treat his adventurous, snow-loving husband to some fun downtime before they embark together on the next big step for them, of parenting TK’s little brother, Jonah. He’s booked a cozy wooden lodge in the closest ski resort to Austin, and he’s going to be his most fun and adventurous self while also making sure that his husband is absolutely spoiled. There’s just a few things he hasn’t taken into account: 1) Carlos has never skied before in his life. 2) Carlos really hates doing things he isn’t already good at, especially if they include the risk of falling on your face and 3) One very annoying, and very hot, ski-instructor named Josh who is outrageously obvious in his flirting up a storm with TK.

-In which TK and Carlos go skiing for the holidays, Carlos grapples with the old notion of letting go of control, and has also convinced himself that he has something to make up for.

*****

On the third day Carlos is officially deemed ready to take on the real pistes. At least according to TK. And to.. Josh. Carlos knows it’s probably immature but he still has trouble accepting compliments from the ski-instructor without somehow taking it as the opposite.

Something about the chipper look on his face when he tells Carlos that he’s ‘doing super good’ or he’s a ‘really quick learner’ makes him feel five years old. Carlos might not know the first thing about skiing and yeah, they might have literally paid Josh for his advice and encouragement, but where does he get off telling Carlos what he is and isn’t ready for or that he just needs to try and ‘let go a little’? Ugh. It’s condescending. 

Yesterday Carlos finally managed to slide down the training hill without face planting or tackling any small children along the way, only to be met at the bottom with Josh giving him a way too enthusiastic thumbs up and saying ‘good job!’ Carlos’ own brain had unhelpfully applied the ‘buddy’ to the end of the sentence, making Carlos feel like he was a little kid who had just managed to actually kick the ball at soccer practice for the first time. Carlos had to muster up all his willpower to smile politely and grit out a genuine-sounding ‘thank you’. 

Josh seemed oblivious to the effect he was having on Carlos, and luckily so did TK - his happy smile and rosy cheeks and the hands that Carlos could just barely feel the pressure of as they gripped at his waist over thick layers while he kissed him with lips that felt cool and moist from the snow had quickly improved his mood and made him feel genuinely proud of his accomplishment. 

Despite this, Carlos feels a little less sure about whether he’s really ready for the real thing, especially now as they’re on top of the hill and looking down, the daunting stretch of it is looking longer and more steep than it had seemed from the foot of it. He’ll be fine, he tries to reassure himself. If nothing else, he believes in TK and TK believes in him. According to TK (and Josh but Carlos is trying to reach a state of cool indifference when it comes to him mainly by trying not to think about him too much) it’s good to try the real piste sooner rather than later, to experience the thrill of actually skiing so as to not risk growing tired and frustrated before you’ve even experienced the real fun of it.

Better to fall on your face a few times than to stay on the training piste the whole trip and go thinking you’ve had enough of skiing for good. Carlos is trying to be on board with that sentiment even though he really isn’t the type to normally throw himself into things without feeling like he’s at least prepared enough that the chances of success are somewhat high.

‘Learning by doing’ and ‘crack a few eggs along the way’ are not normally sentiments that resonate with him. He will be the type for those though, for TK. For his wonderful and adventurous boyfriend who has put up with Carlos being a sobbing mess half the time during the past few weeks, carrying the weight for both of them as they’ve embarked on the process of adopting his little brother, and with Carlos’ absent mindedness and late nights even longer. So at least for this week, he’ll be adventurous for TK while he does his best to treat him to everything he desires.

Besides, it’s not like they’re doing the biggest pistes just yet - the plateau they’re on constitutes the starting point to the smaller slopes and they’re doing the smallest one to start with. TK will be with him the whole way, probably bored as they slide slowly down the hill with Carlos pushing the front of the skis inwards to break the whole way. 

He’s already survived the trip up, gripping TK’s hand tight the whole way and trying his best to appreciate the view, mostly managing to appreciate the view of TK appreciating the view, as he found that looking down made him a little lightheaded and made his heart speed up in his chest uncomfortably. 

As Carlos refastens the buckles of his ski-boots (he’s already done it twice, once when they arrived at the pistes and put on their skis, and once right before getting on the ski-lift, images of his skis falling off on the way up and landing right on somebody’s head making him guilty of negligent manslaughter on account of not tightening his boots enough), Carlos ends his little pep talk by sternly telling himself to pull it together. He can do this. This is their second to last day on the trip, and TK deserves to have some fun too, instead of having to spend his whole trip in the training area with Carlos and all the children. 

Speaking of TK, Carlos rights himself and looks around for him. He didn’t want Josh to witness him neurotically double and triple check the buckles of his boots, not feeling sure that he would react nicely to Josh butting in to offer unsolicited advice or, God forbid, crouching down to help him tighten them. So he’d mustered up a confident smile and told himself and TK to go ahead and Carlos would find them.

 Now he’s kind of regretting that. Carlos might allegedly be ready to slide down the smallest of the ‘adult’ hills, but the thing is, he still hasn't completely mastered the whole ‘moving on purpose in a normal walking pace’-thing. He still feels like it’s the skis, not him, deciding when he’s standing still and when he’s moving (and if he’s honest, which direction he moves in). 

Spotting his husband and the ski instructor that Carlos is not currently sparing thoughts for, by the starting point of the slope they’re supposed to try first, Carlos starts slowly making his way there. Luckily they seem to be caught in conversation and Carlos hopes that it stays that way so he doesn’t have to be observed inelegantly and very slowly approaching them. Nothing more awkward than waving and then being stared down for five minutes while you’re sweating and fighting to get within talking distance.

Once Carlos is within hearing range, he picks up bits of their conversation. “Oh,” he hears Josh’s voice say, and Carlos swears he can hear, even from just that one word, that the ski instructor is flirting with his husband. “I don’t suppose they make calendars for those too..?” And at that Carlos has to stop walking to roll his eyes (he can’t do both at the same time). 

Not this again, he thinks angrily. He can’t believe he’s had to witness TK being the victim of this god-awful pickup line twice in the span of their less than five years long relationship and had to fend the guy off (leading to some spectacular sex the first time, but still). Can’t these idiots come up with something better?

Carlos picks up his pace, he needs to stop this conversation before it goes any further and show this Josh-guy, Mr. ‘I’m a hot and blonde ski instructor who probably never gets caught in my head and is a lot of fun’, who TK belongs to. Even if somewhere deep within himself Carlos is finding it hard to measure up at the moment.

Carlos is sweating and panting, his brows furrowed in concentration trying to make his legs move faster, his thighs protesting as he slides one in front of the other in quick succession, using his poles to try and make sure he’s actually causing a forward movement instead of just looking like he’s using the skiing machine at the gym. At one point he gives up and turns so his side is to Josh and TK, awkwardly lifting his skis to take broad steps sideways.

He’s already preparing what to say in his head. Maybe if he interrupts the exact same thing as last time, TK will find it funny and get that wonderful crinkly and shiny eyed laugh he reserves for Carlos’ jokes that always makes his chest feel two sizes bigger, and they can laugh about it later tonight and hopefully have a repeat of the spectacular sex it resulted in last time. 

Deciding he’s as close as he’s gonna get if he’s gonna make it in time before the conversation moves on, he turns towards them again. Trying to make it look deceivingly effortless as he closes the rest of the gap between them, he paints on his cockiest smile and shouts, loud enough to make sure they can hear him even though he’s barely within hearing range, “And his husband is a Texas R-“ 

Unfortunately he doesn’t get further than that because the thing that could absolutely not happen, happens. 

In his eagerness to interrupt the blatant flirting aimed at his husband, Carlos had accidentally turned his skis in the direction of the light downwards slope toward one of the bigger pistes, and, quickly losing forward momentum as soon as he didn’t give it his full attention, has now started to slide backwards. And this time he isn’t in the training area anymore and he won’t be caught by a fence. 

He sees TK’s eyes widen as his form gets smaller and smaller, and Carlos tries desperately to break, but he can barely break while going forwards, let alone when he’s going backwards, and he isn’t succeeding. In fact, he’s picking up speed, and a glance over his shoulder tells him he’s fast approaching the edge where the plateau changes to one of the steeper slopes.

In a last resort to prevent disaster Carlos lets himself fall ungracefully into the snow, but unfortunately, it’s too late. The concerned faces of people clad in ski suits of all colors swim in and out of his vision as he tumbles down the hill. The world spins dizzyingly around him like he’s the immobile center of a spinning snow globe depicting a ski-resort themed winter wonderland.

Through his dizziness, Carlos manages to send a prayer to the universe that he won’t bump into someone and cause some sort of mass casualty event, as he keeps tumbling for what feels like ages. At some point the tip of his left ski seems to catch on something causing a sharp pain to shoot through his ankle, making him cry out in pain.

The world spins a few more times and then he's landing on his back at what he assumes is the bottom of the slope. Squinting dazedly up at the clear blue sky he tries to catch his breath. Trying to move his leg which is bent at an odd ankle so he can sit up, he grimaces and lets out another cry as he’s reminded of twisting his ankle on the way down, the sharp pang settling to dull throb as he stops trying to move.

Turning only his head he sees the bright orange shape of TK in his ski suit zig-zagging down the hill at impressive speed. His hero, his wild heart, come to save him.

[velcrodoesstuffsometimes]

Stupid Villain and smart Hero (pt 3 ^^)

Part 1! (Focusing more on villain being dumb)

Part 2!

(This one is a Holiday edition!)

Major fluff ahead ^^

-

When hero wakes up, they're tied up with chirstmas tree lights and blind folded with wrapping paper.

Okay, so a normal Wednesday and a cheap kidnapping.

They move to see if they can escape, also to see. How easy it is to escape. Hero barely squirms before the lights slide off with ease. Which tells hero two things: one, it's villain who kidnapped them and two, villain just wanted to be an inconvenience.

After they easily escape the shitty binds, they remove the blindfold and take in their surroundings.

It's bright and colorful, a tree in the corner of the room, soft brown couches, decorated to the brim. On the coffee table are a few gadets that very clearly do not work, a speaker, a candle, amd two stockings.

If hero didn't know any better they'd day that they're in a living room. But surely villain isn't that stupid!

...right...?

Heros question is quickly answered when Villain steps into the room with two bowls of soup and hot coco balancing on their head.... oh nevermind its magic holding the cups up, a soft white glow around the cups.

"Hero! You're up! Hopefully I didn't hit you in the head super hard, how do you feel?" Villain asks, placing the soup on the coffee table. Hero looks at the kitchen where villain emerged from.

This dumbass really brought hero to their apartment...

"Uh.. I'm good... I guess- hey- um, so is this your aparment?" Hero cuts right to the chase, curious and intrigued that someone can be so dumb... especially a villain! To be fair though, it is their Villain.

"..."

"..." hero raises a brow.

"..."

"...this is your apartment, isn't it...?" It was more of a statement than a question. Hero glances at the broken gadets on the coffee table that look like villain was trying to fix.

Villain let's out a weak, nervous laugh and hero audibly groans in pure disappointment. They roll their head back and finally get up from the floor, sitting next to villain on the couch.

"I'm sorry! I was feeling festive and I forgot j had you in my car! When I remembered you were there, I was already home! I wasn't gonna leave you in the car, that's mean!"

The hero cups the villains face, the touch is gentle, tender, and firm all at once. They bring villain close, gaze hard.

"You are a villain! You are supposed to be mean! How did you even get this job! You can't build a trap to save your life, litterally might I add, you get caught in your own traps, I've seen you trip over your own feet, and you don't know how to even fix a weapon!" Hero scolds, but there's no hatred or cruelty behind the words. Instead, it's full of something the villain can't quite understand. Fondness? Maybe even appreciation.

Villains stupidity does make heros job easier...

Villain looks up at hero and gives a nervous look. It's not quite a smile but it's not a frown either, it's in between. They giggle softly and place their hands over heros, who's hands are still cupping their face.

"I know, I know... but I do make your job easier, and villainy pays pretty well so honestly, I get paid for being dumb, hehe!" they giggle softly at the end. Hero smiles fondly.

"You wasted christmas lights on a shitty kidnapping, and wrapping paper as a blindfold? That's all you have?"

"Well I had my apartment in traps but I fell into one and decided maybe I should take them down. Eat your soup before it gets cold!"

"Its not poisoned is it?"

"What poison am I even supposed to use?"

"...nevermind..."

The two laugh and settle back on the couch. Villain plays some soft music, laufey for the festive mood. The goddess version of the bewitched album.

Hero looks around a little more as they eat their soup. The house is warm and decorated with a lot of plants, there's a cat resting on a cat tree, and hero can see the failed traps that villain got caught in.

"On a serious note, hero," villain begins, their voice a lot softer and serious than normal "i know you don't really celebrate these kinds of things ever since you lost your parents, but if you'd like... you could maybe... celebrate with me?" Villain asks shyly, blushing as they do.

Hero smiles at the shy tone in villains voice, turning their head to face Villain. The scene is rather romantic the hero realizes... the music, the food, the decorations, the warm air, the dimly lit apartment, and even the cat.

"We can put our work aside, just one more time..." the villain adds on after a few seconds of hero not saying anything.

"These 'one more time''s are really adding up." The Hero says fondly, villain doesn't think hero has ever spoken to them in any tone other than fondness. "But, in any case, I'd like that. I'd love it actually... maybe it won't hurt to try to celebrate again" Heros voice is soft, but a different kind of soft...

It's the kind of soft you'd use when talking to an alley cat, the soft that parents use on their kids when talking about their childhoods, the soft that makes you reminisce on the past, the soft that's full of memory.

The best kind of soft.

Villain smiles brightly and hugs hero tightly. "Great! Cause I bought you a few gifts! You should invite your siblings, spread the joy with them too! I'll cook, I can make some gnarly ass mac n' cheese!" Villain states excitedly and watches hero pull out their phone.

Villain didn't even take heros phone during that "kidnapping."

---

By the end of the night, villains apartment is full of people who are asleep on the couches or one guest room with fluffy blankets and large pillows.

The apartment smells like peppermint, hot coco, and gingerbread. The TV, which has been playing soft christmas music, is the only light in the whole house.

But where are Hero and Villain?

Cuddled on villains bed with soft smiles, full bellies, and surrounded by the people they love the most.

Especially loving eachother.

[transingthoseformers]

Saw that post about Transformer games and then it hit me: Animal Crossing but make it Transformers. You are a regular Transformer given an assignment by Optimus Prime to rebuild this small city. You need to build a general store, a city hall, a museum, clinic, a library, a cafe, a post office, a shrine to the 13 Primes, and a few houses to gain some new neighbors. Oh yeah, and the neighbors are from a lot of different continuities and alliances, from Maximals to Predacons to Decepticons to Autobots, etc. Sometimes you'll have to make furniture to bring in new Transformers to your town, ie maybe you make a terrarium for Botanica or a chainsaw for Pharma or a DJ turn table for Soundwave. The different buildings you create will be staffed by certain Transformers: Ratchet takes over the clinic of course, Codexa takes over the library, etc. Every week or so you get a visitor to the island selling wares, like Swindle coming over with computer parts, or Thundercracker coming over with books you can give to the library. You can add in plants and mechanimals, even get a pet and celebrate different holidays (decorate your town for Halloween and Christmas, etc). Some of the Transformers will give you errands to complete, the cafe will ask you for ingredients and energon goodie recipes, the museum will ask for specimens and art and sometimes human artefacts, and the shrine will ask for some upkeep now and again.

Just something I thought up of, I'm generally intrigued why this isn't a thing but I guess Transformer video games got to be about war and fighting. Maybe it would be nice to just set up a town and exchange recipes with a Transformer barista and raise a few sheepitron.

You

You get it

I've never played Animal Crossing, but I've seen enough on it to know what you mean

Yes

Exactly exactly on the continuity mixing and having mecha of all faction and rank.

While writing the first post I distinctly got the image of a very grumpy Megatron wandering into town. Him grumbling about how he's not so sure about all of this, but after a few quests and building his respective area he stays in your town

Yes

Exactly

Yes

You get what I mean

Just the soft and sweet addition after addition, the rebuilding and seeing so many different characters who were on opposite sides being neighbors.

[eternalchiyo]

Waiting for Christmas

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5

The house has been buzzing with excitement since morning, which was admittedly quite uncommon — usually the residents kept to themselves, neither of them too keen on socializing with their relatives.

Chiyo was sitting on one of the couches in the living room, watching the triplets play some sort of game on one of their little, funny consoles. Yui had been whisked away by Reiji, as they prepared dinner; Chiyo had never seen so many familiars run around in their human form. Generally speaking, it was weird that there was no formal invitation to Eden or anything, although most of the people present were probably happy about that fact. She didn’t intend to jinx an unwelcome family reunion either.

According to tradition, or at least that book of Christmas customs Chiyo had found by chance in her father’s old books, the day before Christmas was supposed to be spent having a huge dinner, with at least 12 different dishes. You were also supposed to break bread and wish each other nice things like being healthy or great luck. Well, needless to say this family would gladly skip this part. No matter how intrigued Reiji was by this old book of traditions, there was a limit to things.

While she sat there, Chiyo thought about when the best time would be to give Shuu his present. Should she wait until the next day, like they did in movies? But she was already so impatient, she felt if she had to wait another day she would just explode!

“Ha! Once again, Yours Truly is number one!” She heard Ayato proclaim loudly.

“Eeeh! Maybe I should choose that funny looking purple guy next…” Laito whined.

“There’s no way! You kept on butting against me!” Kanato cried, angry tears forming in his eyes. “I demand a rematch this instant!”

“Forget it! Anything goes in racing games; I won because I’m the best!”

As the three of them bickered while sitting on the floor, Chiyo zoned out for a while until she felt something heavy wrap itself around her shoulders. It was a blanket and attached to it was Shuu. He had gone upstairs to get one after she said she was getting a little cold; it was a sweet gesture.

“You guys are so loud, what a pain…” he complained then yawned, and Chiyo thought for a minute that he would just fall asleep leaning over the backrest of the couch, arms wrapped around her neck.

“Hey, Shuu! If you wanna complain at least be man enough to challenge me in a race!” Ayato waved towards him with his console.

Chiyo felt Shuu’s head move, his curly hair brushing against her cheek. “Nah…”

Just as Ayato was about to retort something, Reiji entered the room.

“And what is this commotion about? Where is Subaru? I asked him to help with the garlands…”

Chiyo looked around the room, she hadn’t seen Subaru all morning. That in itself was not very surprising, he was a bit of a loner, after all.

“Your brother is being a pain in the ass…” Shuu muttered and leaned further into Chiyo’s neck.

“Scared to lose?” Ayato taunted him and crossed his arms in front of himself, eyebrows raised. She could feel Shuu’s eyebrow twitch before he detangled himself from her.

“Give that here.”

The event started to get out of hand, and somehow all eight of them ended up sat in front of a TV as the brothers started to race against each other. Shuu joining prompted Reiji to join as well.

“Aah! Fucking hell! That was pure luck!” Ayato shouted at Shuu after the first round.

Then the controller suddenly landed in Chiyo’s hands, and she looked up at Shuu in confusion.

“I’m done, here, take over for me,” he said and yawned.

“But I don’t—”

He planted a kiss onto her neck, making her shiver. “You’ll get a reward if you win…”

“Oh, for fucks sake, get a room!” Subaru shouted, “I can’t believe I have to watch this…”

“You could also watch the game like a normal person,” Laito snickered which only made Subaru throw a massive pillow in his face.

To the surprise of nobody, Chiyo, in fact, did not win. She’d grown increasingly impatient and even loudly complained as Ayato won the race before Reiji made them all stop and continue helping with preparations. The dinner itself was almost pleasant as well. It seemed that most of the family was enjoying this piece of tradition, even though Ayato kept bugging everyone to speed up eating so they could cut to unwrapping the gifts.

At some point, Shuu and Chiyo quietly made their escape to the balcony. The air was chilly, and the girl rubbed her hands together and blew hot air on them as they stepped out into the cold night air. The sky was already dark, a few stars silently glowing in the night.

“Finally some peace…” Shuu said and wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on top of her head.

“You didn’t like it?” She turned around, looking up at him. Truth be told, Chiyo had enjoyed the dinner. It was lively and felt warm, even though for the rest of the year nobody really behaved like a picture book family. She even had to admit she had enjoyed the little racing game as well. She’d never say it out loud, but Shuu’s brothers and Yui had grown on her.

Shuu hummed, as if thinking of an answer, then his lips grazed the shell of her ear. “I prefer less people, but…”

Chiyo turned around completely, craning her neck to see his expression more clearly.

“If you’re here and it makes you happy… then I don’t mind.”

She smiled back at him, and he nuzzled his nose against hers.

“I have a present for you,” she whispered and led him back inside. They settled on one of the velvet couches in one of the empty rooms, presents ready.

“You first,” she said and held out the neatly wrapped present. Shuu looked at her with a knowing smirk and took it from her. He tugged on the yellow ribbon, revealing the contents.

“I see why you were so adamant about me not pre-ordering that collector’s edition myself,” he mused.

“Since I didn’t have a present last year… I wanted to get something for you that you would really like…”

Shuu pressed a kiss to her temple in response. “I do really like it, thank you.”

Then he reached over and placed his gift into her hands. “Your turn.”

Smiling, Chiyo unwrapped the box, that revealed multiple clear phials — perfumes. She gasped and looked up at him, these must have been really expensive!

“I didn’t want to get you a single big one and risk you not liking the scent… the employee recommended a set like this,” he said and Chiyo could swear that for a moment his cheeks tinted a slight pink. Looking down on the pretty little perfumes, Chiyo couldn’t help but smile quietly. It was the perfect gift for her, now that she had stopped using the demon fragrance.

“Thank you…” she whispered.

Shuu smiled softly at her before taking the box and gently placing it on a coffee table. His arms encircled her middle once again and he pulled her onto his lap.

“While I liked this years present a lot…” he murmured as he planted gentle kisses onto her neck. “I think I want the one from last year as well…”

Maybe giving yourself was the best gift after all.

Merry Christmas, Everyone! I hope your holidays are better than mine. Despite all the stress, I really wanted to finish this little project. Hopefully you enjoyed my writing even if it was more in drabble form than anything fleshed out~

[hellsdisneyprincess]

When Charlie returns from her hours of carousing and excess, she will find two objects laying at the foot of her bedroom door.

The first is a simple wooden box carved from fine ash, inside many varietals of tea retrieved from both Heaven and Earth, plants that do not grow nor keep in Hell, meticulously dried and packaged with instructions of how to be best be prepared and what to pair them with.

The second is a spear, finely wrought with mahogany haft, at one end a dull round counterweight, the other a vicious leaf-shaped tip. It is the sort of spear she often sees in the hands of the Trueborn, the kind she has seen Michael wield more than once, though scaled down for the Princesses smaller statures. Pure angelic steel, a true rarity.

Upon the haft are engraved the words of two verses, circling the solid wood and burnished in silver.

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

The letter that is attached to the haft it simple, unadorned, and written in her uncles neat script.

I know of your affinity for proper tea, and thought it likely that you might enjoy broadening your palate. I know little of the art, and took much care in consulting those more learned than I in its selection. I hope that it is to your liking, and if you find yourself particularly fond of one kind or another you may let it be known so that more can be procured.

A young woman dedicated to such righteous work should have available to her a decent weapon, and given your affinity for polearms I thought it fitting to furnish you with a proper spear. Your technique can be refined, and I suggest that you ask myself or one of the Trueborn.

More than this, take it as a token. Whatever the Council may say, what those who have forgotten their purpose may spit, your cause is righteous and your path just. Were this not God’s Will, you would not have come this far. The hand of the Almighty rests upon you, and my sword is at hand to keep His commandments.

I am glad to have been able to meet you, and am privileged to call you my niece.

Merry Christmas.

Charlie may still have had a slight hangover, but her visit to Sloth had helped take care of the brunt of things. The rest of it, she could handle on her own, even with annoyance. As such she had almost missed a pair of gifts at her bedroom door. She brought them inside to properly inspect them.

But first, the note. The princess gave a soft smile as she read her uncle's words. She didn't celebrate Christmas herself, but it was clear that he did and gave much thought to gifts he provided. Perhaps she should do something for him in return. That said, Christmas has already passed by now, so there wasn't a deadline to adhere to. But she also didn't want to make it too belated either.

She beheld the spear, the more obvious of the two gifts. It felt natural in her hands. Well-balanced. Sturdy. While her trident was also made for her, this was definitely a different weapon. Charlie will definitely have to get some pointers on how to use it. Not like she had much on how to use her trident anyway. Perhaps Tacitus could help?

Then she turned her attention to the box. An assortment of new teas was very intriguing and she was very curious to explore what they held in store for her. Would the ones from Heaven have restorative properties? Other effects? There was the distinct possibility it may adversely affect her since she was a Hellborn, but there was one way to find out.

[44gamez]

Free Rotate’, and ‘Snakes LTD’ – TouchArcade

Each day new cell video games are hitting the App Retailer, and so every week we put collectively a giant previous record of all the perfect new releases of the previous seven days. Again within the day the App Retailer would showcase the identical video games for every week, after which refresh these options every Thursday. Due to that builders received into the behavior of releasing their video games all through Wednesday or very early Thursday with a view to hopefully get a kind of coveted options spots. These days the App Retailer refreshes continually, so the necessity for everybody to launch all on the identical day has diminished. Nonetheless, we’ve stored our weekly Wednesday night time format as for years that’s the time folks knew to verify TouchArcade for the record of latest video games. And so with out additional ado please try the complete record of this week’s new video games under, and tell us within the feedback part which video games you’ll be selecting up! Beastie Bay DX ($5.99)

iTunes Description Washed ashore a desolate island and surrounded by savage beasts, are you able to thrive…or merely survive? Blaze trails into unknown territory…after which make it your personal! Plant crops, construct housing and energy sources, and remodel the island into your personal private paradise. As you progress, you’ll be capable of develop new gear and expertise to take your journey to the following degree, together with methods to journey to unexplored islands close by! Discussion board Thread: Beastie Bay DX (by Kairosoft) Block Puzzle: Free Rotate (Free)

iTunes Description What in case you are allowed to rotate the block earlier than placing it within the board? Tada… A very recent new enjoying expertise for Block Puzzle! Strive it and also you’ll like it! (aka “Shut up and take my cash!"). 100% assured!!!! Discussion board Thread: Block Puzzle: Free Rotate (by Genix Lab) Drift Runner (Free)

iTunes Description Introducing Drift Runner, the final word drifting sport that may push your expertise to the restrict and have you ever burning rubber in heart-stopping drift battles. From the makers of Burnout Masters, get able to dominate the streets, break information on the monitor, and grow to be the undisputed Drift Grasp! Discussion board Thread: Drift Runner (by Street Burn) Santa Fighter (Free)

iTunes Description Prepare for some Christmas Chaos! Santas battle it out in an epic showdown on the North Pole. Brace your self for a festive face-off like by no means earlier than! Discussion board Thread: Santa Fighter (by Andrew Baxter) Snakes LTD (Free)

iTunes Description – In opposition to AI mode (Machine studying bots) – Traditional single snake mode – Auto Pilot Mode (Let the snake eat on it’s personal) Informal Snakes Fight. Kill different snakes and develop as a lot as you may. Discussion board Thread: Snakes LTD (by mlThings) Three Minutes To Eight ($4.99)

iTunes Description Set within the close to future, Three Minutes To Eight is a mind-bending pixel artwork journey sport that breaks the mildew by introducing an intriguing twist: the protagonist is destined to satisfy their demise at exactly 07:57 PM. Nonetheless, hope is just not misplaced. It’s as much as you to unravel what lies beneath, uncover secret paths, discover methods to cheat demise, and unlock a number of endings. Every run is distinct, with randomized components and distinctive occasions, urging you to revisit the sport a number of instances to find all its hidden mysteries. End up in an ever-evolving gaming expertise, mimicking a borderline way of thinking that teeters on the sting of consciousness, the place all the things is feasible but stays elusive. Discussion board Thread: Three Minutes To Eight (by Assemble Leisure) Trance Tank ($1.49)

iTunes Description Trance Tank is an Motion-Shooter with Bounce `N Run parts and likewise outfitted with cool Techno-Sounds. It is possible for you to to regulate the tanks like no different sport earlier than. Expertise basic capturing motion in a singular panorama that takes you thru a unprecedented graphic world. The tanks can leap and typically carry out acrobatic actions comparable to somersaults and so on. to keep away from enemies or obstacles. The techno tracks enjoying within the background are supplemented by capturing enemies to play techno samples. This at all times creates a brand new kind of piece of music. Factors and gasoline may also be collected to extend the excessive rating or to unlock new tanks. Every automobile has its personal driving traits and a few ranges can solely be mastered with sure tanks. It's a must to be shooter however on the identical time you must management your tank completely by means of the terrain. Discussion board Thread: Trance Tank (by CodedArt) Read the full article

[kouros-herc]

For the second day of Christmas your true love gave to you, A re-imagining of disney songs for your characters @kenneth-carson

Character Study/Discussion below

Benjamin Drakken - Go The Distance

Like a lot of these, at first glance it seems mad BUT hear me out. One of the things that makes Drakken compelling as a character and a baddie is his persistence and drive and intensity. All qualities we might praise him for if his goal wasn't ... you know, global domination. I think this song can be re-imagined to that sort of intense passion and dedication to his goal.

Ken Carson (ft. Hercules) - Love Is An Open Door

While I don't mean this as a sort of romantic thing, Ken is a character who is discovering his life outside his family and the metaphorical enclosure of that! Herc is likewise looking for people in his life he can let in and share it with and embrace and this song as so much of that naive but endearing warmth about it. Also "we finish each others-" "Sandwiches!" "Thats what I was going to say!" is canonical Kerc dumbassery.

Gabriella Marino (ft. Eric (SOB)) - Love Will Find A Way

First off I am so sorry. But tragic lovers doomed by their opposition in the narratives of their lives who despite that are able to get to know each other as people and ... mean a lot to each other ... I'm not wrong.

Qin Su - What Else Can I Do?

Su is a badass! A witch finding her feet and grappling with what she wants her specialty to be and how to embrace her gifts towards the area of plants and wood witchery? I think this song captures some of that excitement and energy and intrigue. What else can Su do? I can't wait to see.

David Hatter - When Will My Life Begin?

It's on account of Keanue's long luscious locks. Joking! But it's actually because I see Hatter as a man who accidentally hit pause on his life a long time ago - he had to, he had his little siblings to look after and his personal dreams had to take a back seat. So he's been going through life being brilliant at what he does but is he really living. Hopefully Marlin can help him explore that a bit more!

Cruz Ramirez - I'll Make A Man Magic Grand Prix Champion Out Of You

Who wouldn't want to see a Cruz training montage of her being awesome and whipping her new recruits into shape! Cruz is a teacher and a leader and dedicates herself to helping people bring the very best out of themselves, and she deserves a main character moment musical number to celebrate that.

James Jones Sr (ft. James Jones Jr) - Mine, Mine, Mine

Sorry to assign Hook a rampant capitalist villain song but I like the way this song also has that element of disdain for other people in it that we've seen with Hook's hatred of Magicks. We also see some of the chip on the shoulder of the rejection from high society with the stuff about how he'll be able to gain favour with everyone at court by his exploits. I also just think that the John Smith half of the song sort of fits into how young James is this idealistic adventurer who things all of this will be some grand adventure! Which is maybe not exactly the reality of life as a pirate and magick hunter.

Toby Determined - Almost There

I know how much you've spoken about Toby having this desire to be great and brilliant and how that constantly motivates him to push boundaries and maybe push through some of them sometimes. So I thought that sentiment of reaching out for something that is just out of reach but you can almost feel would fit him in an interesting way.

[kittynugg]

If there was ever some kind of prom or school dance at the Skool, Zim would absolutely rig the votes and become prom queen. Not king. Queen. He would come in either the flashiest suit, the most gorgeous dress, go full Luz Noceda with it, or drag himself there in his normal uniform. But whatever he wore he would fucking rock that shit. (And wonder why everyone was laughing instead of bowing to him.)

Zim is a goddamn menace when he needs to prove a point to someone. He'll do anything. Once ate an entire piece of paper while staring dead into Dib's eyes and has no recollection of what argument even caused that.

Zim kind of taught Professor Membrane to be a dad again, mostly by taking a huge liking to him after being shown a single shred of affection and getting all mopey and pissed off when he doesn't get enough attention from him.

Zim once lied about Irkens needing alcohol to survive and it not affecting him just to get his hands on beer for the first time-- He regretted it the next morning when videos arose of his.. Antics. (Curiosity killed the Irken frfr) (He had an emotional conversation with a potted plant that he thought was Dib)

Professor Membrane can do a perfect Squidward impression. It's his most well-kept secret. ..Until Zim finds out.

Zim is baffled by the fact that there's more to Earth than the town he lives in. He's seen Earth from space and it still confuses him. This started after Dib taught him about ✨cultures.✨ He can't seem to grasp the fact that the same species has so many different customs but is very intrigued by it.

Zim would probably die instantly upon inhaling LA air. Not a headcanon, a fact.

Zim has an irrational fear of being watched, he'll always glance around before doing anything that might be labelled as stupid and gets really nervous when brushing his teeth. He hates people seeing him brush his teeth for some reason.

Dib is convinced that their house is haunted, just by a really polite ghost. Doors will open for him and he'll just thank the spectre and continue doing his thing as if nothing happened.

Zim fucking adores minty things. He wishes Christmas came around more often so he could have candy canes, poor guy doesn't know the concept of peppermints.

Zim and Dib's favorite month is fall. When Dib revealed this Zim trapped them both in a simulation of it for three weeks and didn't say a word about none of it being real.

Invader Zim scenario HEADCANONS:

Brought to you by dumbass ™️

Zim can eat as much as GIR can, but chooses not to, because it’s “impolite”

Zim and dib have “special no fight days” where they hang out or whatever like 4 days out of the month, except summer where it’s 5, when those land on school days the skoolkids act like the raptures coming

Keef once dramatically professed his love for zim in front of everyone (flowers a huge ass speech etc) and zim promptly threw up and beat Keef up after school for embarrassing him. Keef though he was playing hard to get (he was not. There was no love involved whatsoever.)

Zim fucking loves earth pastries, he will postpone his “evil plans” if dib bribes him with a couple of cupcakes.

^ when zim, gaz and dib were at a state fair, zim entered a pie eating contest, he just wanted pie, but it was the worst thing dib and gaz ever witnessed, he ate 3 pies in 5 minutes. It looked like the dark harvest but with blueberry pies. Dib still can’t eat pie, but zim did win.

Zim actually likes girs soap waffles, he just eats them in moderation

Since doughnuts are rarities for the tallest, the first time zim had a doughnut was when letter M brought them in for his birthday, zim was confused, ate it, and promptly cried at how delicious it was, like full on nearly sobbing, (his classmates were like “BRO?” “Is you good??!!”)

Membrane once invited zim over for dinner, because “he’s such a polite young man! With his passion for science, he’s a wonderful influence for you dib!” And zim was well behaved, dib however…..

Gaz and zim once played cuphead together, after fighting over who got to be cuphead (gaz won) they played… two dumbasses with anger problems playing a rage game…. Membrane and dib curled into a corner and cried of fear

Zim can cook actually really well because his time on foodcourtia, he just does not like to. He once cooked for a schools bake sale and dib accused him of buying it.

Zim hacked into the membranes Netflix account, and for some reason it cannot be removed, like he hardwired it into the account.

Zim and gaz and GIR Play video games together, (Minecraft, Roblox, supersmash bros, Mario kart and animal crossing are their specialties) “GAZ DONT CONSPIRE WITH THE ENEMIES!!” “Shut the fuck up GIR just found diamonds and if we don’t get to him he’s gonna die and lose them in lava”

If you have any please reblog this with them PLEASEEEE!!! I wanna seeeeeee

[devildom-drabbles]

Snippet - Under the Mistletoe with MC

🎄Merry Christmas (Eve)!!🎄 As a special gift to you all, and a big thanks for over 550 followers, please enjoy this long snippet with all the characters (minus Luke and the three newest ones) sharing a kiss with MC under the mistletoe! Since each part got pretty long, I broke it up into bullet points for easier reading. I really hope you enjoy this! =) ❤️

How would everyone respond to being under the mistletoe with MC?

It was the holiday season, and after a trip to the human world, Diavolo had enthusiastically decided to celebrate some of its traditions in the Devildom. The festivities were held at the Demon Lord’s Castle, where the interior was decorated with various holiday items that intrigued the demon prince enough to bring back from the human world. MC and Solomon had to explain most of the holiday traditions and the purpose behind the different decorations to the demons and two angel exchange students, but the whole celebration made the two of them feel a little less homesick.

Everything was going well until Luke noticed a sprig of mistletoe hanging from one of the doorways and questioned MC about it. They explained to the innocent angel that there’s a tradition where if two people walk under a mistletoe, then they’re supposed to kiss each other as a sign of love. They asked him not to tell anyone else about the practice, though, since it could cause a stir anytime someone walked under it. Plus, it was just an old tradition, not something anyone had to follow. Luke promised to keep it a secret, but someone else had already overheard their conversation.

Later on, while everyone was opening gifts, MC left briefly to use the restroom. On their way back, they suddenly ran into someone just as they were passing underneath the doorway with the mistletoe. They glanced nervously between the mistletoe and the face of the individual they bumped into.

Lucifer exhibited his typical serious expression after MC’s bodily impact, but on the inside, he was full of pride by how well everything in his plan had fallen into place. After overhearing MC’s explanation about mistletoe to Luke, he came up with a few ways that he could be alone with the human underneath the mistletoe. Their trip to the restroom worked with one of his ideas, so when he thought MC would be on their way back, he excused himself from the group gift exchange under the guise of “needing some air from all my brothers’ nonsense.” It was shortly thereafter that he came across MC at the exact time they were approaching the doorway with the mistletoe.

He initially acted oblivious to their nervousness while he explained why he had left the others for a bit, secretly enjoying the look on their face, but he soon pointed out how they kept peeking up above them. Even if MC tried to brush it off, Lucifer was insistent they tell him exactly why they were so distracted by a tiny plant decoration. “Perhaps it has to do with the tradition humans have about kissing underneath one?” he wondered aloud, pleased by their surprised reaction and the blush that followed it when he moved closer to them. “We’ve been following all of the other practices you and Solomon have taught us about tonight, so I don’t see why this should be an exception. What do you think?”

Once MC consented to it, he added with a grin, “Very well. Consider it an extra gift from me then.” He gripped their chin between his thumb and index finger and placed his other hand on their shoulder to keep them in place as he pressed his lips onto theirs. He let it be known that this was his kiss, asserting the most control during it, although the kiss also revealed how much he had been craving MC’s touch. He broke apart from them a little early just to feel their lips chase after his--well, and also because the last thing he wanted was for Diavolo or someone else to suddenly walk in on the two of them. “Hm? Was that not enough for you?” he inquired, a smirk playing on his lips. “In that case, when we return home tonight, we can continue this in my room. After all, I don’t need to use some plant hanging above us as an excuse to kiss you.”

Mammon also had this encounter planned out, and it surprisingly worked out almost exactly like he wanted it to! He had left the others behind by complaining that MC was taking too long in the restroom and needed to go check on them. Then, he waited near the doorway until he heard them coming. However, he got distracted by a painting on the wall that he thought could sell for a high profit, which caused MC to crash into him.

He started telling them to watch where they were going but fell short when he noticed their glances at the mistletoe and remembered why he was there in the first place. He cleared his throat and tried to put on his usual bravado, saying, “Well, I’m in a good mood, so I guess I can forgive ya for crashin’ into me. Though, I mean, ya could do somethin’ to make it up to me. Like, maybe…” Now he was the one looking back and forth between MC and the mistletoe, his blush growing more visible by the second. When MC asked him if he knew about the mistletoe custom, he adamantly denied it, his tsundere personality taking over until he finally admitted to overhearing their conversation with Luke.

He’d gotten himself too worked up now to initiate anything, so MC had to grab his face and give him a quick kiss on the lips. His face could’ve rivaled a ripe tomato with how red it was from the sudden action. “H-Hold on, I was supposed to do that!” he argued, wrapping his arms around MC’s waist to prevent them from retreating. “‘Sides, ya call that a kiss? C’mere, I’ll show ya a real kiss.” Mammon immediately dove in for a long, deep kiss with MC. His greediness for them required him to move one hand to the back of their head to stop them from dipping too far back. He especially enjoyed it when MC returned his energy, making him hold back a bit so they could lead more instead. Once they both broke apart for air, Mammon rested his forehead on MC’s. “I like ya so much it’s crazy, MC,” he murmured. “I just can’t get enough of ya. Let’s stay here a little longer, until my brothers come lookin’ for us. I don’t wanna let ya go yet.”

(Forget the expensive painting, he definitely stole the mistletoe to make sure no one else could use it to kiss MC--and to keep as a memento…and maybe future use.)

Leviathan was just as startled as MC when they bumped into each other. He was playing through a limited time holiday event on one of his mobile games and was so absorbed in it that he hadn’t heard the human’s approaching footsteps. In fact, it was because of his inattentiveness and frequent exclamations while playing this game that the others decided to temporarily kick him out during the gift exchange, which left him wandering the halls--still on his phone--until he was allowed to return.

He began to explain this to MC--and how normies could never understand how important these kinds of game events are to obtain special loot--but got annoyed when their focus kept drifting upward. A strange noise escaped his mouth when he realized they were looking at the mistletoe hanging over both of them, his mind recalling its purpose from MC’s discussion with Luke. He became far more flustered about the situation than the human was. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be under the mistletoe with you!” he declared, starting to ramble. “I heard you say it’s a human world thing to kiss someone under it, b-but that’s not why I was here! And, I mean, of course you wouldn’t want to be forced to kiss a yucky shut-in otaku; who could blame you? And honestly, that’s fine, because this sort of thing is totally something only normies would do! Though, I wouldn’t mind being able to kiss y-- Gahhh, n-nevermind!! Why are you still standing there anyway?! Shouldn’t you have left by now?!”

When MC admitted to Levi that they wouldn’t mind kissing him, his face turns an even darker shade of red than it already was. “R-Really?!” he questioned them doubtfully despite feeling on cloud nine from their words. “You want to kiss me? You’re not messing with me, are you? I don’t need your pity, if that’s what this is!” MC had to give him a quick peck on the lips just to prove their sincerity--and shut him up for a bit. Hoo boy, there had to be steam coming out of Levi’s ears from that simple action. Finally convinced that they were serious, he grabbed MC by the shoulders and practically crashed his lips into theirs, for if he took it too slowly, he’d psych himself out and wouldn’t have been able to do it at all. It was a short kiss since he’s inexperienced, and he couldn’t get himself to relax until the last few moments. He then turned away and attempted to hide his bright blush behind the back of his hand. “U-Um, sorry if it wasn’t good,” he apologized meekly. “I would’ve liked it to be more like the ones you see in anime, but-- Um-- Listen, I really like being able to kiss you, MC, so I promise I’ll get better, okay?”

(If MC suggests trying again right then and there, he might just collapse. But once he recovers, he’ll go for it.)

Satan felt fortunate that he got to learn about an intriguing human world tradition that he could actually use to his advantage over the rest of his brothers. Some time after MC had left for the restroom, he convinced the others that the human may have gotten lost on the way back and that he would go look for them. This plan ended up working since most of his brothers bickered that they should be the one to look for MC while he remained calm and rational (on the outside), which prompted Lucifer and Diavolo to agree that Satan could go find MC. He sighed while walking down the hallway, exasperated from his brothers’ annoying arguments over something so minor, only to accidentally collide with the human he was looking for.

He apologized to them for his lack of awareness, but they were more concerned with what was above them. He glanced up as well and was somewhat shocked that they both happened to meet up directly under the mistletoe. “Well, isn’t that something?” he noted aloud with a grin. “I was hoping to catch you here, but not quite like this.” When they asked what he meant, he replied, “You see, I just so happened to hear that there’s a practice in the human world where if two people are found underneath a mistletoe, which just so happens to be the plant hanging over our heads, then they must kiss each other. Care to elaborate on the topic?” He laughed lightly at their startled reaction before explaining himself. “I was thinking,” he then said, “since you’re the human world expert, maybe you could educate me on how this custom is done? For the purpose of expanding my knowledge…and having the chance to kiss you.”

After receiving MC’s approval, Satan rested one hand on their cheek and positioned the other on their waist to carefully bring them toward him. Any frustration he was feeling earlier melted away through their kiss, gradually making his movements even softer. He held MC like they were the most precious object in existence, and in this moment, they made him feel like he was truly his own person--not a fragment of a fallen angel or the embodiment of wrath. Once the kiss was over, he grasped the hand MC had on his face and turned his head to press a gentle kiss to their palm. “I never liked the idea of being vulnerable around others, but with you, MC,” he remarked, “I feel I can let my walls down completely. I hope you can feel the same way with me. Oh, and thank you for this learning experience.”

Asmodeus was full of smiles, as MC had fallen right into his trap. He’d kiss himself at how smart he was and how well he timed this, if he could! Well, he could in the mirror, but that would have to wait. “Hi, MC~!” he greeted them cheerfully. “I wasn’t expecting to bump into you here. What are the odds? Perhaps we’re just naturally drawn to each other, hm~?”

He tried to play innocent, saying he was on his way to freshen up in the restroom, but MC noticed him looking up at the mistletoe more often than they were. Soon enough, he admitted to having heard them talk about the human world tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe. “I was hoping we could experience this special custom together,” he explained, his cheeks becoming rosy. “So, MC, will you let me kiss you?”

Once MC gave their consent, he brought his hands to their face and whispered for them to come closer, slowly decreasing the distance between each other until their lips finally touched. The kiss was gentle at first--with Asmo initially taking the lead to test MC’s comfort level--and gradually grew as passionate as MC allowed it. Somewhere along the way, Asmo moved one of his hands to MC’s lower back to ensure they stayed as close to him as possible. Even when they both separated, he kept a firm hold on MC, his thumb stroking their cheek as he studied their expression. “I could kiss you forever and never grow tired of it, MC,” he said, staring deeply into their eyes. “It must be because of how much I love you, and because of how great your love feels whenever I’m with you. ...Say, since we’re still under the mistletoe, does that mean we can kiss again? We may as well, right?”

(He also totally stole the mistletoe later for future use with MC, regardless of what time of year it is.)

Beelzebub looked at MC with concern and asked if they were okay after bumping into him. Upon confirming that they were fine, he grinned warmly at them in relief. He explained that he was on his way to the kitchen to find something to eat while Barbatos was distracted with the gifts. He was about to ask MC if they wanted to join him, but he noticed they seemed distracted by something.

He followed their gaze up to the mistletoe and let out a soft, “Oh.” He then told them that he had heard their explanation to Luke about kissing under a mistletoe, sending a light blush to both his and MC’s faces. “I...want to do that,” he admitted. “With you. Can I, MC?”

When they agreed, Beel’s expression softened from their words, his lower eyelids wrinkling slightly from the smile that had formed. His hands rested on the human’s shoulders to keep them in place as he leaned in toward them. The touch of his lips on theirs was soft and delicate, revealing his fear that he might hurt them if he wasn’t careful. He felt MC wrap their arms around his neck to pull him closer in order to ease his worries, and he finally began to relax and deepen the kiss. After the two of them pulled apart, Beel had a loving, giddy smile on his face as he gazed at MC. “Your kisses are the best, MC,” he remarked. “They always make me feel full, in both my stomach and my heart.”

(Even so, he definitely ate the mistletoe before they both returned to the others. Come on, it had berries; how could he resist?)

Belphegor had actually fallen asleep against the siding of the doorway, only to be woken up abruptly by MC running into him. He was groggy and grumpy at first, but once he heard the human’s voice asking if he was okay and what he was even doing there, he regained his senses. As he straightened his posture, he told them that he was getting bored at the group gift exchange without them around, so he had decided to leave for a bit until they returned but fell asleep along the way.

There was a mischievous glint in his eyes while he pointed out the mistletoe above them, and a smirk formed on his lips when he noticed them tense in response. “What’s wrong, MC?” he teased, inching closer to them. “You seem kind of worked up about this little bunch of leaves. Is it because the two of us are underneath it right now?” He chuckled at their reaction to his claim and then admitted to overhearing them talk about mistletoe with Luke. “But since we’re here,” he continued, “we may as well kiss, right? I mean, I’d like to anyway, even if there wasn’t a tradition.”

As soon as MC agreed, Belphie wasted no time in taking a hold of their face and closing the distance between the two of them. The kiss he gives, on the other hand, is slow and a bit lazy--he’d rather have MC do more of the work. Still, he refused to separate himself from them, wanting to draw it out for as long as he could and even taking the lead if MC was nervous or not too experienced. After it came to an end, Belphie smiled in contentment. “That felt really nice,” he noted. “Your kisses seem to give me more energy than a full night’s sleep, MC. Since I’m wide awake now, how about we stay here and kiss some more before we head back to the others?”

Diavolo quickly reached out to grab MC’s shoulders and steady their balance from their collision into his torso. He fretted over them, worried he may have hurt them, but they assured him they were simply just caught off-guard. He nodded his head at their comforting words and began asking them their thoughts about the holiday party--like he came over just to do some sort of check-in--, but his hands never left their shoulders. MC answered his questions while struggling to make eye contact, too distracted by the close proximity, his grip on their shoulders, and the mistletoe hanging above them.

Then he asked them about the mistletoe, making their body flinch. “I heard you explaining its purpose to Luke,” he confessed. “When I visited the human world, I thought it was merely a decoration since it was hung in random locations. I never would’ve guessed that there’s a custom involving kissing under it. It’s rather interesting!” His smiling face then became more serious. “Do you practice this tradition, MC? If you don’t mind, I’d like to experience it with you.”

Once MC agreed, Diavolo’s hands slid up to their jawline while he moved in closer to their lips. His kiss was gentle at first to avoid accidentally hurting the human, but he melted into it on his own as he grew more comfortable. The demon prince was starved for affection, and MC’s matching energy in the kiss made him feel so whole that he had no intention of breaking away until it was necessary. When they did, though, he kept his face close to theirs, the tips of their noses lightly grazing over each other. “I quite like this human world tradition,” he said with a grin. “I’ll have to hang up mistletoe around the castle next year, too. You’ll join me again for the holidays, won’t you, MC?”

Barbatos responded as any refined butler would: by calmly assessing MC’s condition after they bumped into him. He behaved like his usual composed self, so the human had no idea that he had fully intended to stop them underneath this specific doorway. He explained to them that he was on his way to the kitchen to fetch some more drinks for the guests, which was true, but he made sure to time his exit well enough so that he was more likely to encounter MC on their way back from the restroom.

Feigning innocence, he questioned MC about the mistletoe hanging above the two of them, his smile growing a little bigger from the blush that dusted their cheeks from his inquiry. He nodded in understanding during their explanation. “So in that case, since we’re both under the mistletoe right now, it’s customary for us to kiss, yes?” he concluded. “If it’s all right with you, I’m more than happy to follow this practice.”

After MC agreed to it, Barbatos stepped toward them and gently cupped their face. He leaned in with his eyes closed, but he peeked open while his lips ghosted over theirs to observe the look of anticipation on their face. Amused by their expression and reassured that he wasn’t the only one who wanted this, Barbatos finally pressed his lips onto MC’s. Although he initiated it, he gradually followed their lead, not wanting to do anything they didn’t like and continuing until they were completely satisfied. Once they both separated, he looked back at them with a warm smile. “Thank you for this wonderful experience, MC,” he said. “Moments like these that I share with you mean a lot to me. I hope we continue to have many more of them.”

Simeon’s arms wrapped and hovered around MC’s body like a safety net to catch them in case they fell over from the sudden impact. He was just on his way to grab some more cookies that he and Luke had made to share with everyone else, but his mind was too preoccupied with other things to fully pay attention to his surroundings. He was relieved when the human was able to rebalance themselves and avoid getting hurt. He apologized for not watching where he was going while rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, but he became concerned once again when he noticed that they seemed out of sorts.

“Are you sure you’re okay, MC?” he inquired, his tone laced with worry. “Are you maybe feeling tired from tonight’s festivities? I could get you some water, or--” MC tried to assure him that they were fine, but when he noticed them take another quick peek at the top of the doorway, he understood what was affecting their behavior. “Ah, it’s the mistletoe, isn’t it?” he asked, relaxing a bit while speaking in a more soothing manner. “I heard you telling Luke about the tradition humans have that involves kissing under it. You also mentioned that it’s not something that has to be done, and I have no intention of kissing you without your permission, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

However, when MC expressed that they actually wanted to kiss him, Simeon’s eyes widened in shock, not expecting them to say that. Even so, a blush crept on his face at the thought of kissing them and from how happy he felt that they wanted the same thing. After accepting their request, he rested one hand on their cheek and tenderly placed his lips on theirs. The kiss was brief and chaste, as Simeon feared that if he lingered too long, it would become increasingly difficult for him to stop willingly. Despite the kiss only lasting a short time, he poured as much love as he could into it so that MC could get a sense of how deeply he cared for them. Still, just in case his feelings didn’t reach them completely, he told them afterward, “You know you mean a lot to me, right, MC? You always make even the darkest days in the Devildom so much brighter to me, and I want to do whatever I can to keep that smile on your face each and every day. So, even if it’s just a kiss under a mistletoe, don’t ever hesitate to ask me if you want something, okay?”

Solomon had temporarily forgotten about the practice of kissing underneath mistletoe until he heard MC bring it up to Luke. He had disregarded this plant some time ago since it rarely worked well in potions and he didn’t feel inclined to follow this custom from his world that mainly affected couples. However, now that MC was around, the tradition became more appealing to him, so he plotted to get the two of them alone under this mistletoe before the end of the party. Not surprisingly, it was rather difficult, considering MC’s popularity and how possessive the demon brothers were of them. By some stroke of luck, he acquired an opening after MC had left and everyone was preoccupied with a magnificent gift Diavolo had given to one of them, allowing him to easily sneak out. He was a bit early, so he hid near the doorway with the mistletoe until he heard his fellow human’s approaching footsteps. He then popped out suddenly to surprise them, and they accidentally ran into him in the process. He apologized while they tried to regain their composure.

Half of MC's attention was already on the mistletoe, but Solomon pointed up to it to let them know he was focusing on it as well. “Are you familiar with mistletoe as a plant?” he inquired. “You may have seen it by itself in public places during this time of year, but in nature, it’s a parasitic plant that primarily lives off of trees. What’s more, every part of it, including its berries, is poisonous to us humans, should we choose to consume it. Though, I’m sure it’d have no effect on someone like Beelzebub.” MC wondered what he was trying to get at, so he resumed, “Anyway, despite this plant’s function in our world, there’s still the tradition where people kiss underneath it and view it as a symbol--or even a blessing--of love.” It was then that he confessed to unintentionally eavesdropping on their earlier conversation with Luke. “If you’re willing, MC, I’d like to follow this little tradition with you.”

After MC gave their consent, Solomon pulled them closer and tucked a loose strand of their hair behind their ear, his face flushed as he eyed their lips. He then confidently leaned in to kiss them. He was eager to express his feelings for them, and it was a big boost to his ego when the well-liked human reciprocated his kiss; it felt as though they were choosing him over the demons and angels that constantly vied for their attention--that he was able to stand out more to them than those powerful beings. He couldn’t stop his lips from curving into a smile on theirs just before the kiss reached its end. “I’ve met so many other humans in my extended lifetime, but none of them could ever compare to you, MC,” he declared. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to stay by your side and continue to show you my affection like this as often as I can. But for now, let me hold you in my arms a little longer.”

[nerdzzone]

-More Hearts Than Mine-

Summary: Raising a child is hard. Raising a child with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars is even harder. And raising a child with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars who you’re not actually in a relationship with is even harder still.

Especially when a global pandemic is sweeping the world.

With lockdowns and stay at home orders looming on the horizon, the uncertainty of their situation becomes almost too much for Whitney Taylor to handle. Chris suggests that they quarantine together to avoid any potential separations but, given what happened the last time they spent more than a few brief moments in each other’s company, that could cause more problems than it solves…

Chris Evans x OFC

Sequel to: Once Bitten - Twice Shy

Part Two

____

Part Three

I did my best to take Scott's words to heart. It was eye-opening and, while it didn't change my concerns about how Grayson would be affected, it helped me soften my guard a little bit when it came to Chris.

We were both in over our heads, stuck with feelings that we didn't know what to do with and insecurities that left us unable to fight for what we wanted. I had doubts and I had questions, but if what Scott had divulged was true then I did have some sympathy for Chris because I knew exactly how he'd been feeling for the last few years.

So, I decided to talk to him. To hash it out, lay it all on the table and see what he had to say. I wasn't entirely sure I would change my mind about the situation, but I wanted to give him a chance to explain his thoughts and feelings unlike how I'd shut the conversation down after Christmas.

But I didn't count on how chaotic it was to be trapped in a house, all day every day, with a child who was almost three. Even with three adults, there were days when it felt like we were the ones who were outnumbered as we took turns trying to keep him constantly entertained and stimulated. To our credit, it was working and we were managing to keep Grayson from being bored, anxious to go out to a park or noticing that things were all that different, but it meant that I had no time or energy to deal with heavy conversations. Things were fine between Chris and I, we were getting along well enough with no more noteworthy disagreements, but there hadn't been a good time for any kind of heart-to-heart.

Things only got more complicated about a week and a half into our lockdown when Chris had to start doing interviews. He had a new show, Defending Jacob, coming out in a few weeks and he had to start the promo for it.

Most people who were working from home these days with small children running around had way more difficult situations to balance than we did, but we knew it would be tricky to keep Grayson from getting curious and barging into an interview. He'd proven to be quite sneaky when he wanted to be and Chris was anxious about the whole thing. He wasn't a big fan of interviews at the best of times so doing it over Zoom made him even more nervous. He spent the whole morning fretting about it being awkward, concerned that he wouldn't be able to relax and act natural, and it seemed like he was channelling his anxiety into his worries about Grayson. He very much liked to be in control of what the world saw of Gray and having him crash an interview wasn't what he wanted. I completely agreed and assured him several times that I wouldn't let that happen, but I could tell he was still stressed about it as he dragged himself off to get ready.

For the first hour or so that Chris was working, things went well. We read a story and played with some Lego, activities that wouldn't get Grayson too excited and noisy, but when Scott suggested that he curl up on the couch and watch Finding Nemo with him, we ran into a problem.

"Okay!" Grayson cheered, jumping up from where we'd been playing on the floor. "Be right back!"

He took off down the hall and I leapt into action, calling his name and stopping him just as he got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Where are you going, buddy?"

"To get my bear!"

Grayson's room was upstairs, next to Chris' office. He knew where Chris was so I knew there was a good chance he would stop by to say hello on his way past the door.

"Why don't you go get settled on the couch with Uncle Scott and I'll get your bear so you don't miss any of the movie?" I suggested. "Is he in your room?"

"No," he shook his head. "He's in Daddy's office."

I held back a groan, knowing that Gray would not be happy if I explained that he couldn't have his bear for the movie because we weren't allowed in Daddy's office right now. But I also knew that now he'd decided that he wanted to watch a movie, it wasn't likely that he would settle doing anything else either.

"Well, Daddy's very busy in his office right now," I explained. "But I'll go upstairs and see if I can sneak in and get him, okay?"

Grayson agreed to that suggestion and ran off back towards the living room as I glanced at the clock on the wall quickly and hoped that Chris was between interviews. I knew he wouldn't be done for the day just yet, but he had a few lined up so there was a chance that he wasn't currently on a call.

As soon as I pressed my ear to the door of Chris' office, my hopes were dashed. I could hear the sound of laughter echoing through from his laptop so I knew he was in the middle of something, but just as I was about to walk away I heard something that caught my attention.

"You have a son of your own, don't you?" The interviewer asked and I cringed, knowing that it wasn't something Chris liked to discuss. His character in the show was a father though so I wasn't surprised it had come up, it gave them a segue that they hadn't really had before. "How is that going with this lockdown?"

Ever the professional, Chris didn't even hesitate before he answered even though I knew he would be annoyed by the line of questioning.

"Oh, it's great! He's staying with me until all this is over so it's great that we get to spend so much time together," he told the interviewer. "I'm lucky enough to be in a situation where I can just take a few months off until things cool down without too much worry so we've just been relaxing, building blanket forts, watching movies and getting in some bonding time that I miss out on when I'm busy. It's had some challenges, but it's been really nice."

I knew I shouldn't be listening, it was rude to eavesdrop even if the conversation would shortly be broadcast to the whole world, but again, the interviewer's next question had me too intrigued to walk away. Despite all the talking points that he could have chosen from Chris' answer, he zeroed in on one thing.

"He's staying with you for the entire lockdown? Is there a rekindled romance we don't know about?" He asked. "Or is his mother no longer in the picture?"

My jaw dropped. I didn't know who Chris was talking with today, but it wasn't like his team to set him up for any interviews where he would be asked questions like that and most interviewers were too polite to fish for the kind of gossip you'd find in a trashy magazine.

"Oh, I'm not gonna get into all that." Chris' tone was much more clipped than it had been moments before - he was clearly not impressed by the question either. "It's not anyone's business really, is it? But I will say that she is definitely in the picture and one of the best moms that I know. She's staying here with us too."

My heart melted a bit at his compliment even though I knew the words he added at the end meant that we were in for a whole new gossip storm.

It suddenly felt like I really was overstepping by standing at the door listening to this conversation without his knowledge so I headed back downstairs. As I got back into the living room, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a message to Chris:

It would appear that you have a stowaway. I know you're busy, but please return Mr. Bear at your earliest convenience.

I put my phone away as I explained the situation to Grayson, but luckily, he was too interested in the movie to pay much attention to what I'd said. By the time Chris came down with the bear, it was like he'd forgotten that he ever cared about it in the first place.

Most of my attention was on Chris at that point though. The way he scurried into the room, avoiding looking in my direction at all. He looked ashamed and withdrawn and I couldn't hold back a sigh when he left the room quickly as I knew that he was beating himself up over the conversation that he didn't even know I'd heard.

-

Chris was sullen for the rest of the day. He perked up around Grayson, but whenever Gray was distracted there was a scowl or a frown firmly planted on his face. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know how without confessing that I'd overheard his interview. Given his mood and the ease with which we fell into disagreements these days, that seemed like it would cause more issues than it would help.

The news broke at about eleven that night and I knew because I was suddenly inundated with texts from friends and with follower requests on my private social media accounts. I pulled up the video and watched the interview, feeling another wave of empathy when I saw the annoyance written all over Chris' face as he answered the questions. He'd found a subtle way to shut the interview down almost immediately after the incident and I was proud of him for handling it so diplomatically.

I added it to the list of things that I needed to talk to Chris about whenever I got the chance as I pulled myself away from my laptop and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth before bed. However, when I got into the hallway, I noticed a light coming up from downstairs. As far as I knew, everyone had gone to bed almost an hour ago, but I had a good idea whose thoughts would be keeping them awake so I headed down to investigate.

My suspicions were confirmed as I walked into the living room and saw Chris on the couch, his phone in his hand and his brow furrowed.

"Uh oh," I started, making his eyes snap up towards me. "Are you doomscrolling?"

The angry look on his face softened slightly as he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Doomscrolling?"

"Yeah," I shrugged with a smile. "That's what the kids call it these days when you spend too long scrolling through the news or Twitter, just soaking in all the bad shit in the world."

Chris chuckled as I moved into the room and sat on the opposite end of the couch that he was on, tucking my feet underneath me.

"I didn't know you were so down with the kids these days."

"I'm getting old, Chris. I'm almost thirty-two, I have to stay cool somehow." I shot him a wink. "But anyway, what are you reading that's making you look so grumpy?"

Chris sighed and locked his phone, putting it on the end table next to the couch.

"I said something in an interview today," he admitted. "Something that I shouldn't have said."

I watched him for a moment, waiting for him to look at me and elaborate, but when he didn't, I spoke up.

"I hope you're not about to tell me that you regret saying what a good mom I am or I'll be really disappointed..."

That comment brought Chris' gaze back to me, his shock evident on his face until it faded into a grimace.

"You heard what I said?"

"I watched the video," I admitted. "I had a flurry of Instagram activity that tipped me off."

"You didn't read the comments, did you?"

There was worry written all over Chris' face when I shrugged.

"Of course I did. Can't have my self-esteem getting too high, can we?" I was teasing, but his look of gloom only deepened. "Chris, it doesn't matter. I'm no supermodel, they're not saying anything I don't already know."

"See, this is what bothers me," Chris snapped. "My so-called 'fans' are out there spewing all this crap about you and you're acting like it's all true, so who cares? Well, I care because it's bullshit and you don't deserve it!"

"I didn't mean it like that," I assured him, keeping my voice quiet in an attempt to cool the situation.

We'd been here many times over the years and I knew how enraged the comments made Chris. He saw right through me, he knew that I took some of the things that had been said to heart, but who wouldn't? It's hard not to take it personally when someone points out your biggest insecurities, the things that you hope no one else notices, the things that you tell yourself can't possibly be true or as bad as you think in your head. It's impossible not to let it get to you a little bit, but I was well practiced at dealing with it and had grown a thicker skin.

At least, when it came to the comments about my appearance. The comments about how I'm not good enough and how Chris could do better always struck a cord, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

"No?" Chris huffed. "What did you mean then?"

"That I know I'm an easy target because I'm not stick thin with a boob job," I answered, wanting to diffuse the situation before Chris got too upset. "They're cruel and mean, but they're just jealous because they think their dream boyfriend is taken now."

"Well, anyone who claims to be a real fan of mine wouldn't talk like that about someone I care about," he grumbled. "I shouldn't have answered, I should have just ignored the question."

"Actually, I'm glad you didn't. I'm glad you set the record straight rather than have everyone think I've abandoned my child. I would probably get even more hate for that."

"He shouldn't have even asked about it," Chris continued. "It was so out of line. Why can't people just mind their own business?"

"Because everyone adores you and has a burning desire to know everything about you," I teased, stretching my feet out to nudge his leg gently. His lips twitched briefly into a smile, but it faded as fast as it appeared. "Even my friends were all messaging me, asking if it was true like gossiping teenage girls. Everyone wants the Chris Evans scoop."

That comment earned me a chuckle and I relaxed slightly, hoping that he was starting to calm down.

"I'm sure your friends were more interested in the gossip about your life, not because of me."

"I dunno," I shrugged. "They always liked you."

Chris smiled, but a sigh slipped from his lips as he draped his arm over my feet where they rested on the couch next to him. We sat quietly for a moment as I continued watching him, wishing there was something I could say to ease the worry in his mind, but his next words left me a little bit speechless.

"I do get it, you know?" He said, his eyes still fixed firmly on the ground in front of him. "I get why you wouldn't want to be with me. I get that it's a lot to deal with."

My heart sank at his admission and I scrambled to figure out what to say.

It wasn't ideal - discussing our relationship, while he was already feeling quite murderous - but he'd brought it up and it was hard to say when we'd get another chance. Once again, I found myself fighting the urge to bolt for the door, but I swallowed hard and took a deep breath, hoping that this would be a civil conversation.

"Chris, it's not that," I insisted, my voice soft in what I hoped would be a soothing tone. "Maybe they didn't do anything to ease my concerns, but the bullies on the internet aren't what scared me away."

"No?" His eyes flicked up to meet mine. "Then what did?"

He sounded so defeated and I bit my lip to keep my emotions from bubbling up. The truth was that I didn't know where to start. There was too much floating around my head, too many questions and too many explanations that made less sense now that I knew what I knew after speaking with Scott. I was scared, but it was a very justified fear that could only be made sense of by answering his question with another question.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were in love with me?"

Chris raised an eyebrow, but shrugged off the question.

"You didn't seem like you wanted to hear it, Whitney. I told you that I was all in after Christmas and you shut me down pretty fast," he pointed out. "I didn't think blurting out a confession of love would do much to change that."

Had that been what I was referring to, it would have been a fair argument. However, I was referring to long before our latest incident so I shook my head.

"I talked to Scott," I confessed as a slight look of betrayal slid onto Chris’ face. "Don't be mad, he'd had a few drinks and was feeling sentimental. He told me that you were in love with me long before Grayson was even in the picture, but you never told me."

"I slept with you, didn't I?" He questioned, a defensiveness creeping into his tone. "Doesn't that make someone's feelings pretty fuckin' clear?"

"Hardly," I scoffed. "People sleep with people they're not in love with all the time and it becomes even less clear when they meet up afterwards to have a discussion about their relationship and that someone makes no mention of being in love."

"Was it really a discussion? Or did I show up at your apartment just to hear you lay out the ground rules?"

I faltered slightly as I thought back, but after a moment of reflection, I nodded.

"It was a discussion."

"I believe the first words out of your mouth were 'I think we both know that we're better off as friends'," he informed me. "Doesn't leave much room for debate."

"I was scared." That confession came out less confidently, but I found my voice again quickly. "And I assumed that's what you wanted too because you never pushed back."

He cocked his head to the side, a hint of a smirk on his face.

"You weren't the only one who was scared."

"I was the only one who was pregnant," I retorted, my tone growing harsher as my frustrations started to rise. "I was the only one who was trying to make a massive life decision while hormonal and growing another human being inside of them."

"That's fair," Chris nodded, his voice much calmer than I expected after my burst of annoyance. "But I wasn't about to pour my heart out and tell you how I felt when you kept talking about what a mistake we'd made as if you'd never regretted anything more in your life."

"Getting pregnant was a mistake," I clarified. "I love Grayson and I wouldn't change it for anything, but we can't say it wasn't a mistake at the time given our situation."

"A situation that you didn't want to change."

"Only because you never told me how you felt," I shot back. "I didn't want you to commit to something out of a sense of obligation. I didn't want you to put up with me for a few years until you dumped me for someone more in your league who you actually cared about."

There was a look of surprise on Chris' face at that revelation as it became more and more obvious to both of us that we hadn't been as good at communicating as we may have thought. It seemed we'd both been so convinced that we knew exactly how the other person felt that we hadn't bothered to actually ask them.

"But I did care about you," he assured me. "And you never told me how you felt either."

"I slept with you, didn't I?"

There was a smirk on my face as I threw his words back at him despite the anxiety that was bubbling inside me.

"A wise woman just informed me that sleeping with someone doesn't necessarily mean anything," he teased, a soft smile on his face. "But I think it's safe to say that we were both cowards."

"Again, in my defence, I was pregnant," I reminded him. "I was trying to make a logical decision while my brain was muddled with hormones."

"But you could have told me after," he pointed out. "We lived together for year after he was born, Whitney, and you never even dropped a hint."

"Oh, please," I snorted out a harsh laugh. "Do you remember what that year was like? We had a newborn baby who never slept for more than ten minutes at a time and you were flying in and out for the first six months, filming one of the Avengers movies. I was delirious, exhausted and emotionally wrecked. I wasn't in the right head space to give much thought to our relationship."

"So, if I had made a move back then? Would it have made a difference?" He asked. "Because it didn't seem to matter much a few months ago."

This was the real issue at hand.

It was all well and good to talk about the past and how we'd managed to come this far so oblivious to each other's feelings, but the real discussion was where we were at now. And the truth was, that I didn't know.

I opened my mouth to answer, but shut it as my words escaped me. I shifted nervously, shrugging under his stare until a sigh fell from my lips.

"I'm not sure anymore," I admitted. "If you'd told me how you felt back then, if you fought for us to be together then I might've been swayed."

"But now?"

"Now, I think we made the right decision for Grayson."

Chris was still staring me down, his eyes locked on mine as if he was looking into my soul. It was an intensity that was hard to endure and I was relieved when he spoke again, despite how his words made my heart ache.

"But what about the right decision for us?"

"That's not what's important," I insisted. "I've seen so many of my friends struggle through their parents' bitter divorces, I don't want that for Gray. I don't want us to lose our ability to work as a team and put him first."

"Yeah, you mentioned that several times," Chris huffed. "But I don't see why you're so fuckin' convinced that we'd end up hating each other."

His frustration and impatience was shining through and I felt my panic rising again. Chris had made his stance clear and I knew I needed to make a decision soon or my lack of decision would decide for me, but I felt like I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The thought of not being with Chris made my heart ache especially now that I knew the extent of his feelings, but the thought of being with him and the consequences that could come from that set every anxious nerve in my body on edge.

I found myself scrambling for something to say that was non-committal, but would placate the situation. I floundered until, fortunately, a tiny voice from the doorway saved me.

"Daddy said a bad word..."

I leapt off the couch, desperate for any excuse to get away and Chris raised his eyebrow at my swift reaction. I ignored him as I looked at Grayson, who was rubbing his eyes with one hand and clutching his bear in the other. He looked so small, standing there in his little flannel pajamas and I smiled at the sight.

"That is a bad word," I agreed. "Daddy shouldn't have said it. But what are you doing up?"

"I had a bad dream."

His voice was small as he was still half asleep and Chris stood, following me over as I walked towards him.

"I'm sorry to hear that, buddy," he said, lifting him up in his arms. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," Grayson shook his head. "It was scary."

"Awe, I'm sorry, sweetheart," I frowned as I rubbed his back, my heart melting at how small he looked in Chris' arms. "Do you want me to tuck you back in or Daddy?"

He rested his head on Chris' chest and pulled his bear so close that his answer got muffled by the stuffed animal's fur.

"I want to sleep in Daddy's bed..."

I looked up at Chris, letting him decide if that was okay, but he was already nodding his head.

"Sure, we can do that," he assured him. "But don't hog all the blankets this time, okay?"

Grayson giggled and I smiled as they headed to the door.

"Goodnight, boys," I called to them before they disappeared. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight." Chris paused to answer me and flashed me a look that made me feel like a schoolgirl being scolded by the principal. "This conversation isn't over."

It felt like a foreboding warning and it left me so flustered that all I could do was nod before he turned and continued on his way to his bedroom.

He was right.

Our conversation couldn't end there unless we wanted another four years of miscommunication and mutual longing, but I didn't know what to do. I wasn't trying to be difficult, but both options seemed destined to lead to heartache. Of course, I had no evidence to prove that we wouldn't live happily ever after, but he was Chris Evans. He was the man that women all over America, all over the world, would kill to be with. And I was just me. Once I fell off whatever pedestal he'd put me on in his mind and he realized how ordinary and unremarkable I was, it wouldn't last.

And I couldn't spend the rest of my life waiting for the other shoe to drop.

With a sigh, I headed to the stairs. My head was a mess despite my hopes that talking to Chris would bring me some clarity. It seemed I was starting a pattern of coming away from late night conversations with more questions than answers, but I was beginning to think that might be due to the fact that I would never be told what I wanted to hear. No one could make this decision for me and no one could make it a fool proof choice.

There was always a risk when it came to love. I just had to decide if that risk was worth it and start being honest with myself about why I was so scared. Were my intentions really as noble as I wanted everyone to believe? Or was I using Grayson as a shield to protect my own heart from pain as much as his?

-

Part Four

Tags:  @maggotzombie @moonlacebeam @mizzzpink @zaylaugh @flowery-mess @flowerjewels @njrronaldo7 @hockeychick10

[atsunflower]

Rated: SFW

Author notes: this one is a special for Dear Santa-san HQ fic exchange event. I'm really glad to have written for @momochimo since she's the one who came up with this wonderful idea.

Dear Mo, I hope you had an amazing Christmas surrounded by your loved ones. From the bottom of my heart, please enjoy your reading.

Warnings: language, hints of anxiety, brief religion mention, alcohol, mentions of food and angst, female pronouns.

Word count: 1,8k

The drying paint under your nails made you feel uncomfortable and an unsettling feeling took over your chest as you made your way to your favorite coffee shop.

Be it embarrassment or straight-up heartbreak, you couldn't describe your feelings nor translate it into the heavy canvas you were carrying. You tried expressing it through your art, however, at some point of the day, you figured there were things that even logic couldn't explain: why magnets always have south and north poles, why some plants have more genes than a human and, the most intriguing of all, why the fuck Sakusa Kiyoomi hated you so much.

You see, the thing regarding logic is that it is all about facts. Unlike superstition, logic is based on things registered by human observation that relate cause and aftermath. You were no STEM major, but you knew life worked this way so, three years into graduation, you didn't have a clue why he despised the idea of you.

Nothing ever happened to cause such drama, but it didn't hurt any less. Not when you used to have a massive crush on the star athlete of the campus.

"It's just a mess." It was all he said when Miya Atsumu, your best friend, once asked why Sakusa acted this way towards you.

All things considered, it was no surprise the man didn't even hesitate to humiliate you at Atsumu's christmas party.

You grimaced to yourself when, once again, the memories from the weekend flooded your mind and squeezed your heart.

Despite being almost obligated to attend, you felt kind of happy because of the invitation. You were feeling gorgeous in your outfit and the makeup highlighted your features just right. The night was also pleasing since it stopped snowing the day before and the weather wasn't too harsh on your city.

It was cold, but the idea of spending Christmas eve with your best friend didn't sound too bad and warmed your heart, you thought to yourself before knocking on Atsumu's door.

"Glad ya came, [Name]-chan!." The bright grin almost splitted the bonde's face in two, the hooded eyes already telling that your best friend was tipsy. He ushered you inside, welcoming you into his apartment.

"Not gonna lie, getting wasted on Christmas eve doesn't sound very appealing." Your mouth contorted downwards when you heard Bokuto and Hinata screaming from somewhere. You just knew you'd have to babysit them at some point into the night.

"It's literally Jesus' birthday, ma friend. We should celebrate it with the best party of the year!" The blonde Miya said with a cheeky smile "Waaay better than spending the night watching 'Home Alone' and stuffing yer face with fried chicken."

"As if you're christian to celebrate shit, Atsumu. You know how these dates work." You countered, laughing at his shenanigans, already knowing you'd be in for a good time with some of your closest friends.

And indeed, you were. Entering the place, you realized the Miya twin didn't hold back with the food and the drinks, everything being top quality. The music playlist was on point thanks to Suna and the decoration was really beautiful. Apart from the drunk, it didn't look like a party for college students.

"Well, don't start with the capitalist-existentialist shit. Just enjoy the night, will ya?" He shoved a red cup into your hands and with that, you made sure to stay by the blonde's side all the time, given that most of the attendees were from the university's volleyball club.

At some point, Sakusa joined you both, grimacing at the sight of your figure sitting on the couch. The beer in your tongue turned stale and you prepared yourself for a jab. Surprisingly, the ravenette kept quiet, ignoring your presence as he turned to Atsumu.

"I wonder how you manage to cram so many people inside your tiny ass apartment, Miya." The taller man said as he took a seat on the sofa, leaving as much as possible room between your bodies.

"It's a secret, Omi-kun." The blonde answered, winking at the other man.

"Disgusting." Sakusa muttered, taking in his surroundings. You ignored their interaction and observed Atsumu fetching a red cup for Sakusa and setting it on the couch, right in the space between Kiyoomi and you.

From the corner of your eye you could see a commotion on the other side of the room; Bokuto and Hinata were hollering over a couple making out, but you decided to pay no mind to their antics, knowing that ever since Shoyo came back from his exchange on Brazil, the short man became an unrecognizable party animal and Bokuto religiously followed him through.

And of fucking course they were dragging you into their dumb acts.

Before you realized, the duo sneaked up behind the sofa you were sitting, hanging a branch over your and Sakusa's head.

"Blame it on the mistletoe, you two." Said the ginger-haired boy before laughing like a hyena. You barely registered what was happening before Sakusa jolted from his seat, knocking the forgotten cup on your lap.

"Hell no. I'm not doing it." And he stormed out of the room.

You froze, letting the reality sink in. Utterly embarrassed, you heard the giggles from the drunk people and felt the pitying yes from Atsumu wandering over your figure, spotting the huge stain in your clothes. The freezing drink dampened your mood even more.

Both Bokuto and Hinata had the decency to look guilty, but you didn't find any strength to scold them. On autopilot, you left the house ignoring their attempt to make you stay.

Outside the apartment, the cold weather seeping into your bones did nothing to soothe the burning feeling within your chest.

"I should have stayed in," you murmured and hugged yourself in a vain attempt to ignore the freezing clothes clinging to your skin and the tears pricking your eyes.

When you reached home, you tranquilized Atsumu over text. After the failed prank, your best friend instantly sobered up and called it a night, telling everyone to go home. You felt bad for ruining his party.

Shoyo and Koutaro also reached out to you, profusely expressing their apologies and now, two days after the incident, you were trying your best to move on from the recent events.

Keyword: trying.

Because life had more than one way to make you feel like shit and play with your heart.

Because out of all people, of fucking course you would run into Sakusa Kiyoomi.

You barely entered the café when you spotted his figure towering over everyone in the line, looking breathtaking wearing a black coat and a designer scarf. If you were lucky enough, he would pretend to not see you like he always did.

Spoiler: you were never that lucky.

"[Last Name]." He said before you had the chance to leave. You let out a shuddering breath turning to him, only to stand there, waiting.

Sakusa inhaled too, as if he was taking courage to do something. "I'm sorry, there's no reason for what I did, but their joke was embarrassing." 

You were surprised Kiyoomi apologized, but you weren't buying it. The nerve he had.

"Very rich coming from the guy who embarrassed me in front of everyone." You retorted, ready to get out of the shop.

"That's why I'm apologizing. It wasn't intentional." The man countered weakly. And suddenly, everything was too much: the canvas on your back, the sounds inside the café and the weight of his stare on you.

Noticing that, the athlete ushered you outside to the square across the street. He removed the supplies you were carrying and set them on the floor. It gave you time to collect yourself.

"If not intentional, why try your best to make me miserable every time you see me?" Hurt coated the words leaving your lips. You saw Sakusa flinching uncertain of what to say.

"I'm…" He started hesitantly "You make me feel weird. I don't know how to act around you and it's just a mess." The tall man reached for your hand and you evaded, self-conscious of the dried paint on your skin. The frown on his features deepened "You're cold. Here, hold my hand, you idiot."

"I don't understand." You stammered, not understanding the unusual behaviour and weird actions.

"I… I like you." Sakusa said and it was confusing.

"Impossible, you hate me!" You retorted, flabbergasted. 

"I hated how you made me feel! Not you, I swear!" At this point his frustration was noticeable, but you just couldn't believe the newfound information. If you didn't know he was emotionally constipated, you'd think it was a sick joke being played on you.

Instead, you felt delighted by the reciprocated feelings.

"I hate how you made me feel, too." You spoke softly. "But for the record, I like you too." You finally looked up, freezing at the sight.

And no, you weren't paralized by Sakusa's beauty. 

Above your heads, a single mistletoe was hanging from the lamppost. A forgotten remnant of the city's decoration.

The irony of it all, you thought to yourself, feeling shy out of the blue.

Noticing the lack of reaction, your companion decided to look up as well. And an adorable blush coated his cheekbones.

"Well," the man started with a boyish grin "Can we?" Patiently waiting for consent, he brushed your knuckles. The pads of his fingers felt rough because of years of training.

The whole scenery was heartwarming, so you nodded. And, with the taste of his lips on yours, everything finally made sense.

"I thought you didn't like mistletoes." Breaking apart from the kiss, you provoked him cheekly.

"Hm, you also thought I didn't like you." A glint of remorse passed over his irises before he continued "But I learned my lesson to not look down on Christmas superstitions." It was all Kiyoomi said before he removed the scarf to place it around your neck. His body parted from yours to collect your supplies and make his way to cross the street, as if he hadn't just kissed you.

"Where the fuck are you going?" You questioned, feeling irritated all of sudden. He looked over his shoulder with a pointed glare in your direction.

"Where else? I'm taking you to our first date."

His behaviour did made sense, yes: Sakusa Kiyoomi was just bad at expressing feelings — although his actions weren't that logical either.

Like he said, it was all a mess.

And you were glad to experience both good and bad parts of it. With him.

[hit-me-with-a-ladle]

Ch.11 Creepypasta x Fem! Reader

Four days had passed since their first brawl. Toby had observed her staggering improvement and powerful determination to learn. He hadn't seen that kind of behaviour in a long time. As nightfall came they began to clear up and head back. Both tired from the long day of training, Toby walking in front of her as they went on their way. The walk was peaceful, the night sky illuminating from the dense array of trees as the crickets chirped their lullaby. The sky was littered with beautiful stars and the girl couldn't pry her eyes away from them, looking up in amazement like a child on Christmas day. Toby on the other hand wasn't paying any attention to anything around him, with his hands in his pockets and head down, eyes focused on the patchy road ahead.

The walk to the cabin was beginning to feel longer than usual, the air now becoming tense from all the silence, but the girl still didn't bother to speak up as she knew it was futile. Toby was a man of few words, always keeping to himself, there would be days where they would only say two words to each other. This was a drastic change from what she was usually used to with the others, especially Ben. " So." Her thoughts were cut off as she looked at Toby, who had now slowed down and was walking in since with her. " Um yeah." She sighed out, looking ahead both hands in her large pockets. " Ab-about the necklace." He continued still trying to put his thoughts into words. " What about it." Her eyes widened a little, not expecting him to bring that up as she looked at him pulling it out from underneath her jumpsuit and holding the tiny bottle between her rough fingers. " D-di he tells you wh-why he gave y-you it?" He asked in his usual bored tone. " Yeah, he did. It's for safety and protection. He gave it to me almost two weeks ago and I usually wear it most of the day." She answered honestly softly smiling as she looked at the pretty plant inside of it. It calmed her looking at it. " Interesting." He said to himself not wanting her to hear him but she still managed to.

Her eyebrow raised, why was he so interested in the necklace all of the sudden. " So...do you and Ben get along or...?" She said trying to further the conversation while they walked to the cabin. Toby was hesitant with answering the question, as he took a moment to think of the right response to such a subject. " Yes a-and no. But more n-no. I te-nd to avoid that blab-blabbering idiot but h-he has his moment at ti-times. Very few a-a-and in between but st-still there non the l-less," He answered simply glancing at her direction as he did.

The girl was intrigued by his answer, she assumed he despised him as they were the polar opposite. The assumption wasn't unprompted either, as Toby didn't seem to like most people. " But then ag-again, he tries t-to hard. He acts too m-uch like a child. It's frust-rating." He finally finished his thought, looking back at the road and softly closing his eyes as he walked, admiring the cool night air. He hadn't felt this clam in a while, he enjoyed the feeling. So much so as a small smile crept up his lips. It wasn't noticed by the girl standing next to him but he didn't mind.

In the distance, they could make out the cabin, relief washing over both their bodies like a title wave. " Almost there, finally I can rest." The girl announced dramatically, sighing. It made Toby eye her watching her hunched form drag her feet while walking. Almost close to collapsing. He grunted, at this rate they'd reach it till next morning, clearing his throat he hunched down sweeping her off her feet. She was startled by the sudden action as her eyes widened in surprise, now settled in his arms bridal style. " WHAT! What the hell are you doing? Put me down." She shrieked flailing her arms. But it was to no use as she was too tired to do any harm. Toby grunted as she thrashed, waiting for her to stop and when she did, he smiled softly picking up his pace.

The girl was surprised at how he was able to hold her weight, as he looked quite thin, but as her back pressed against his arms she could feel the defined muscle. Toby didn't say anything, he seemed like the extra weight didn't even affect him. She could hear his heartbeat, it was slow and quiet. The soothing rhythm made her relax even further melting into his arms. They finally reached the cabin, but Toby didn't bother to put her down, no he managed to open the door with her in his hands and she barely noticed. Walking inside, warm air hit his face making him sight. Going to the living room he carefully set her down on the couch and stepped away.

The girl sat upright, her whole body resting as she softly smiled. It had been a while since she could get some rest. Toby had walked to the kitchen slowly lowering his mask and pouring himself some water, looking into the living room while he drank it. He could see the back of the girls head. " Did you also have to train as I do?" The girl's voice broke his peaceful trance. He cleared his throat pondering on his answer as he usually did. " Not r-really." He simply said rinsing the cup and putting it back into the self. " What do you mean by that?" She perfused, wanting to know him better. " Well," He sighed putting his mask back to place and walking towards her, sitting down on the armchair next to the couch. " You have y-y-your duties so you ne-need a different type of trai-ning and mentors. M-my mentor was much wo-worse than we a-a-are."

The girl let out a snort when hearing the last part, looking at him with a curious look. " Really, how so?" " He i-i-is a being co-comprised of pure e-evil so you could imagine it your-yourself." " Pure evil? Is this the Operator man everyone is talking about?" " Bingo." Shed started to get frustrated by how short his answer always was, shed has to ask multiple different questions to know the smallest thing. " What's up with this Operator fella? If he's so powerful why does he need a human guarding his forest?" " Easy. A human is a b-b-basic, morally grey, being. F-for example, you we-were chosen be-because you weren't all t-that good bu-but not all that bad, in the mi-ddle aka The middle-man. So it d-doesn't matter how po-powerful h-he is if there's no real ba-lance in the fo-forest and your j-j-job is to hold that balance." He finished taking a big sigh and slouching on the couch, making it clear that he didn't feel like talking anymore. Soon he would fall asleep.

The girl watched him thoughtfully, eventually getting up. They had finished a little earlier than usual, at this time she would be heading back to eat and then go to bed but something was telling her to look around the cabin, something she wasn't able to do. There were no bookshelves. Its walls were all very sterile and plain. Same for the kitchen. But something in her gut was telling her to go up the stairs, slowly approaching the railing she sighed, with every careful step she would look behind her to make sure Toby was asleep. Reaching the final step she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, the narrow hallway felt longer than before, and she felt strange not immediately heading to the left.

Turning her body to the other side of the dimly lit hallway at the end was a door, she hadn't noticed it before. ' Was that there?' She asked herself approaching it and reaching for the gold knob. The door was painted in a thick layer of black paint, scratches and carving covering its whole surface, one of the larger carvings was crossed out circle. A chill when up to her spine when she noticed it quickly pulled back her hand. Taking in another harsh breath and mustering up the courage she turned the knob, but it didn't budge. She pressed her whole body on the door and began to push but it still wouldn't work, finally, she got frustrated and began to hit and thrash the door handle. But it still didn't move, so she had to reluctantly give up.

There was something important they were trying to hide and she made it a point to find out what it was.

[cosmiclatte28]

Casual Intimacy (Mark Lee x you)

a/n : it’s my soft hours I guess? I made this sweet Mark Lee imagine (well for me this is sweet. I want a boy like this... if you’re that kind of man dm me 😜)

fluff, no warning, no suggestive content but kisses, and just Mark being a wonderful man for you. 

Happy Imagining Mark Lee as your s/o! 

People often ask you how you can hold on to your “plain” relationship with your current boyfriend. You seriously do not like them bothering you about your relationship life, but you need to deal with it considering the fact that the man you are dating is the famous Mark Lee of NCT.

He is dorky in camera, and in real life too. You pray day and night to the angels to make sure Mark is not tripping on some random stone or bump a pole. Guess your prayer works, when you see Mark always smiling in front of the camera coping up and working so hard with his endless job.

You yourself work in a famous two Michelin restaurant in Seoul. You’re not going to lie, you met Mark lee on your duty. NCT was holding their debut birthday and you were appointed as the chef to cook for their meal that night. Apparently, Mark Lee was super fascinated by your dish and he requested you to come greet the team when your job in the kitchen is done. Your head cook lets you leave your station once desert is prepared and the plates coming into the washing room is clean.

That was five years ago, Mark Lee got love struck by your simple but attractive persona. His eyes couldn’t leave you as you answer their questions on the dishes and you congratulating them. They’re glad when they learn that you listened to their songs and followed their schedules, just that you don’t have much time to be like the other wonderful fans.

Mark Lee looked so intrigued on you and as you bow to them bidding goodbye, he just returned from the restroom. With his long legs trying to catch his other brothers, Mark happened to slip his number on a piece of tissue paper to your pocket and gave you a genuine smile plus a “thank you”.

You earned a good pay that night and even better, Mark Lee’s number.

Well, he isn’t your bias but come on who doesn’t have Mark Lee in their bias list? Want it or not, conscious or not, Mark Lee is always in the list. So, that night when you finish showering and eating a light midnight snack, you gave the number a shot.

You thought your message will never be replied, maybe Mark will have his phone in silent and only opened up messages from his contact list. You’re lucky when your notification bleeped and from that night both of you learn more about each other.

He kept your number under your name, plain business people say, you also thought maybe he wanted to call you for another dinner party. But the chats he had been sending was far from platonic business. It involves jokes, puns, memories of living in Canada (well you graduated from University of Toronto, but cooking is your passion), and even deeper like late night talks.

The relationship got deeper when Mark Lee called you one night, asking if he can meet you in the restaurant. He said he needed a good meal to write a song he was assigned for. You found no correlation between a good meal and writing a song, but believe it or not, Mark Lee came with one  of the hottest selling song that month. Earning him a title of “King of Lyrics”

Since then, he called you again and again when he didn’t have the idea to write. You finally invited him over to your house when you got closer. Mark got to eat in your small dining table with a simple dish that was made with love and care that Mark said tasted better than any other dishes he ever had.

You laughed saying he is exaggerating, but Mark never exaggerates when he is with you.

“Be my girlfriend will you?” he one night asked after you teach him how to cook a proper egg. Despite him succeeding the challenge back in 2020, he still needs practice. He succeeded cooking eggs after knowing you for more than a year.

“Suddenly Mark? After you can make a perfect runny egg?” you giggle but nevertheless nodded your head.

His smile that night was even brighter than when he received any awards and praises. His eyes spark joys and emotions uncaptured by cameras. The world never knows how Mark’s true happy face looks like, but if his world is you, then the world knows!

For the first two year of dating, both of you are keeping it low. Dates happen in your house (your wage is enough to buy you a house). You always cook him foods, tried new dishes to him, earned a lot of complains on how the food is not “suitable for Korean tongue” which you always shrug off because he himself is a mix.

But thanks to his constant brave inputs, your dishes are perfectly blended and well known. News media and TV shows started to cast you in their weekend shows. You were offered a contract of a cooking show in a known broadcasting company.

Mark told you to go for it. He knew how happy you are about cooking, and his faith told him “if that is what was given for you, go for it.”

He was right. The internet loves you, they love your simple but tasty dishes. Your show was ranked the hottest that month, famous for helping college student eat a more delicious food.

NCT even did a special relay cam for it, each group were doing a challenge on following your recipes.

Mark was caught off guard on that live shooting day. His team consisted of him, Ten and Johnny.

And you may guess, things went wrong but in a chaotic fun way. When the three of them are together, they just speak in English and forgot all of the filters they should have.

Mark spilled his relationship when he accidentally said out loud “Of course I know how to do that, my girl has been teaching me that.” Mark boasted when Ten asked if Mark could make the egg benedict for their dish.

Johnny and Ten froze on screen, well the NCT members knew your relationship with Mark but they kept quiet. Mark realized what he has said was recorded and forever lives in the web. The comment section went wild and the fans are thrilled about the “mysterious girlfriend Mark has”.

He eventually spilled the truth on a press conference. You were there beside him when he faced the board director and when he sit in front of different mics and cameras flashes. No one knows but throughout the time, when your heart is beating faster than when you took your SAT and final tests, Mark Lee held on to your hand whenever you are answering a question directed to you.

The magazines are taking the favor of the rising topic, inviting you and Mark to take a photoshoot. When you were insecure about taking a picture with him (who has did countless shoots), he squeezed your arm when walking past you and gave a small proud smile as he went to change clothes while you start your personal shoot. No one saw that, but his quick reassuring squeeze boosted your confidence that day and the couple shoot was very nice! You could print that as your wedding pictures!

When the internet goes wild when they connect the theories and Instagram posts Mark and you both made (fans are the best in deciphering codes!), you now walk through the streets crowded by fans. All asking how is it like to date Mark, but not few also told you to screw off. One day when you both are going back to Canada for a winter break, the fans are crowding the way. You gulped when you have to walk pass them, but Mark looked so used to it. He just chuckled and landed a small hand on the back of your waist. With the manager hyung and bodyguard pushing to make way, you made it through the crowd with confident steps.

On the Christmas dinner, Mark was invited to your family dinner and vice versa. You had to attend their family lunch and to say you were nervous was an understatement.

“Mark, what if they don’t like me?” you asked on your bus ride to his house from the airport.

Mark laughed, he always laughed as his first respond, “Baby, it’s going to be okay. Trust me.”

You snorted, “You calling me baby is already suspicious, for three years we dated you “dude” me 70% of the time, “baby” was only like 10%”

He did the math, “Then what’s the remaining 20?%”

“You just call me “Bro” for the res of them.” You squeezed his cheek and planted a kiss there.

“I like it though, not too cheesy.”

He grew red. “Gosh I am having the Jaehyun syndrome. Why are my ears burning?!”

He was not 100% wrong, his parents were nice they grew fond of you especially when you helped his mother prepared lunch. Well you both arrived earlier and you decided to give a hand for the busy mom.

Mark sat next to you on dinner and when you were diving into a yummy Christmas pudding, his parents began asking you the “platonic questions asked to your partner”.

You almost chocked on your pudding when they asked “Are you seeing a future with Mark? Can you make our son happy and us too?”

You were not ready, you expected questions like where you work or where you live. They said “We can find all that answers in the internet, but not the answer to our question.”

Mark’s gentle kick from under the table by your side made you looked at him and he gave you that sincere smile only you have the privilege to see. He nodded slightly and shot his eyebrow to his parents side “Answer them… I am also curious of the answer.”

You grew red, it wasn’t the drink or anything, but his parent’s happy and relieved face when you nod your head and said “I am seeing a future with him, if I get both of your blessing.”

They love you and Mark was right. That night, you invited his family to join your dinner instead. The same question was asked from your parents to Mark and Mark was more than ready to marry you.

But your wedding bells did not chime that fast. He has his career and so do you, both of you just keep the stable relationship going on. Together facing the problems and obstacles in your relationship. Fights occur, bickering occur, threads of breaking up also happened once or twice… but both of you used that to build a stronger bond.

You always melt when Mark came home from a long day. After he showered and savored his dinner, he always ended up leaning on your shoulder in the big snuggle sofa both of you never regret buying. His head on your shoulder, his hand scribbling words to a paper and you whispering ideas to him which brought a big smile to his face.

Writing lyrics has been even easier for Mark, he blended your frustration with his, splattered some love words, and voila a masterpiece! People said his lyrics were relatable and both of you always keep it to yourself that “those happened in our life, no wonder it looked real.”

He always kissed you gently on your lips, tasting the faint cherry flavour of your lip balm. Mark’s lips tasted of medical lip balm, but you love it nonetheless.

You blinked and realized the flashing cameras in front of you. Oh right, someone from the hot magazine company is asking you a question.

‘Can you please repeat your question?” you asked politely to the lady holding out a mic.

She quickly nodded, “A lot of fans are wondering If you are still in a relationship with Mark. Mark was busy for the last months with projects and comebacks. And the interaction update from both of you are little to none. Fans suspected you were over with him, considering that Mark looked like he is the “plain” type in a relationship.”

You pressed a smile, hiding your urge to laugh out loud. Weren’t the fans always picturing Mark as their dream boyfriend? Why did they judge him as the plain boring type then?

You clear your throat and while looking through the crowds, you spot Mark Lee seated in the crowd with a mask and a hat, giving you a nod, and you turned your mic on.

“We’re still going strong; well I think love is not the type of grand gestures or explosive displays.” You started off and caught everyone’s attention.

“It’s made up of little things,” you felt your heart clench upon remembering all the small affections Mark always did to you. “It’s the little things Mark Lee did that say he is here, and he cared for me and that my life has intertwined so deeply into his that there was no need to think.” You take a pause to look at the audience.

Everyone looked impressed, but amongst them you catch one pair of gleaming proud eyes, the pair of eyes you’ve been waking up to for the last years, and the one you want to wake up to in the future years.

“It’s Mark’s casual intimacy that made us both stay strong and stronger.”

Applaud was heard through the room, you were holding your press conference because you were retreating from all the cooking shows and rumor has it you are going to marry Mark.

“Please pray for both of us, as we will be tying our bonds soon.” You leave the room after a bow and the man with mask and hat is already waiting for you outside the big crowded function hall.

His hand naturally makes its way to your waist and you never felt more sure to step into life with this man you love, Mark Lee.

“That was wonderful (y/n)~”

You smile, he did not dude you nor bro you nor baby you. “I love you Mark Lee,”

He leaned in for a peck behind the tinted black van window, “I love you most (y/n) Lee,” he winked and you rubbed your cheeks “Guess I have the Jaehyun syndrome now! Also I like it when you call me with that name.”

He quirked his eyebrow and smirked, “Don’t worry, you’ll be hearing that soon for the rest of your life.” He reached for your hand and kissed the knuckles.

“I met you thanks to your amazing handy work in cooking unforgettable dish.”

You rolled your eyes, “You were so amazed on my egg benedict Mark! How is that an unforgettable dish?”

He shrugged his shoulder, “I don’t know, something about you, cooking, and love made me this love struck and awfully amazed by simple things you did.”

the end

thanks for reading, put in comments for I’d love to interact with you on the story plot .. rant to me what you hate or like idc :D i want to talk with my readers! to thank you all for reading and spending some time here

omg i didn’t know if I made the right choice of making Mark Lee as this character, but I want it to be him.. I’ve been writing a lot of Jaehyun and Yuta fic and I guess Mark can be a refresher. Please let me know if someone else suits this better!

[wallwriterstuff]

Her Reflection ||Marcus Volturi x Reader||

Warnings: Angst city central, descriptions of grief and depression

Words: 2741

Taglist: @royalvolturisblog @thelastemzy ​ @ferb13 ​ @raindancer2004 ​ @a-avaunce @broskibowser ​ @alecvolturiswifeforever ​ @college-is-coming @perfectcolortreestudent @volturidoll13 ​ @vamp-army

Summary:

A request for @like-rain-or-confetti

Marcus is resolute in his grief, so much so he has refused Corin’s gift many a time. When you show up, he can’t help but realise that perhaps his centuries of suffering were enough, that the contentment you offer is far more permanent than Corin’s. Maybe,  just maybe...Didyme sent you to him to give him one last chance at the happiness she loved to spread about.

You were a wonderful find.

Aro had been delighted to see you in his thoughts. He had been forced to leave the safety of Volterra for a business trip, the accounts of their business front needing attention every few decades to keep up the ruse of a modern, evolving company with changing leadership and new blood in its crew. The journey to Rome had been uneventful until they found the rogue little newborn tearing holes in a small residential area they had had to pass through. Demetri had quickly found the little fiend and as Aro took his face in his grasp, the images had raced through his mind, the regret he hadn’t taken your offer to help him strongly resonating through his body as it was mercilessly torn apart.

“Oh…Demetri…find this one.” He had murmured. Demetri did, and you had been amongst the guard now for eleven months. It had been a surprise to Marcus when you showed up with his brother as you didn’t seem to fit the Guard’s image – he wasn’t sure you knew how to be intimidating. It was clear you hadn’t come of your own volition, you were far too intelligent to be deceived into thinking Aro’s offer to join was real and clearly saw you actually had no choice at all, but still you came with a gracious smile, like you’d rather be nowhere else. After so many centuries of living and travelling as nomad you had confessed to Marcus a place to settle was nice, and despite so much time on your own you had a warm and welcoming nature that just drew the others to you.

It was all too easy to find your place when your place seemed to be everywhere and anywhere. As bitter and cautious as they were, even the twins seemed to warm to you rapidly after a few discussions. Marcus was mildly intrigued at first, but he didn’t really see enough of you to form any solid opinion on you. He only knew what he had heard, and what he had heard was that you were helpful and kind, quick to soothe pain and anger in others even if it festered in yourself. It sounded so awfully familiar to him that the raw ache in his chest, one that had never really gone away, throbbed so badly he was forced to turn his face to avoid your visage when you entered the room. Still, your voice was sugar sweet, melodic and soothing, it was a balm somehow to that pain. Months later he couldn’t say he was rid of it, he never would be rid of the pain he was sure, but it had dimmed somewhat.

His intrigue had turned to infatuation quickly when he finally let himself cast a glance at you. You were attractive to him, very pleasing to the eye though not in an exaggerated way. What made you beautiful was your personality, and it was what brought so many to your side in their efforts to win themselves a chance at capturing your affections. You turned down one after the next, the bonds you chose to make with the rest of the Guard purely founded on friendship and nothing more. Even when you grew those you coveted most it never came close to anything romantic and he was somewhat glad of that. He didn’t want to be the reason you never knew happiness, but he couldn’t help but wish that perhaps you might find it in him. There were other complications with that of course, because how could you ever give yourself to someone so broken? Was he even capable of love? How did you find happiness in someone devoid of it? He had felt it once before and this was so similar…

You had shown up more and more in the throne room, guarding them as they read. If you ever noticed his stare you didn’t say or make it obvious, but you did catch his eye once or twice and the smile you gave him warmed him inside. It had felt awful the first few times because how could he betray Didyme like that? How was it right, how was it fair, that he might get to feel any semblance of joy after his mate had gone unavenged? Was it even possible to fall in love again? Perhaps the centuries had worn away that original bond, but even that felt like a disservice to Didyme’s love, her kindness. It was enduring in ways that nothing else was. Then it hit him, you reminded him of her. The bond he could form with you was not so different to the one he had shared with her, you were too similar for it not to be.

Didyme’s gift had been happiness, the aura so inviting she had infected everyone around her with it, and while you didn’t share that gift you shared that personality. Marcus understood then, why the colour had returned to the halls as he walked them, why the sunshine seemed warmer on his skin as he passed by windows. It was you. Yet more complications came with that revelation because he was growing ever more restless (in his own lethargic way) and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hide it. How did he tell you he had grown to love you for the very same reasons he had loved her? It was like looking at her reflection distorted in a mirror, a different face and different person but the same kind of heart. You had different passions and opinions and a slightly lethal edge to your physical prowess that he found gave him comfort, for it reminded him you were not her and you were able to defend yourself in ways she hadn’t been able to, but it also finally gave him the courage to admit that yes, he did love you, he did love you and he loved you because though you were like her you were not her.

Marcus didn’t want you to think about Didyme though when you spoke to him, he didn’t want you to see yourself as a replacement for a great, epic love. Unbeknownst to him, you had enquired about the sad king the moment you arrived. Marcus’s entire being radiated such grief and pain that it had been impossible not to ask about him, and given your easy to talk to nature (and the fear of what would happen to you if you unknowingly stuck your foot in your mouth) many a guard had happily told you the reasons for his depression.

“Didyme was beautiful.”

“Didyme was always so kind.”

“She made a whole room light up when she walked into it.”

“It was the greatest love story our kind have ever seen.”

Every statement had only made your heart hurt for the man more and more. His pain was so palpable, but his interest was also obvious. For a man so broken by the loss of such a momentous love it was surprising to say the least, but you also weren’t complaining. You had no desire to see anyone feel like he did, to be so trapped in darkness, and you had made it your mission to make the throne room feel a little lighter whenever you walked into it. Marcus was rather attractive in his own way, even with the corners of his mouth pulled down and his eyes so devoid of light. You were sure with a real smile he would look radiant as his eternal youth dictated he should. The day you got to see that first wisp of a smile was the day you became more determined to see it more often. Most people had gotten so used to overlooking Marcus unless he was called upon that you were able to share subtle looks and smiles from across the room with nobody really noticing – you smiled so often it wasn’t an unusual thing to see.

It was getting close to an important anniversary, important in Marcus’s mind anyway. You had been with the Guard for almost a year and people had started to notice the effects on the quiet King. Marcus had taken to wandering the halls more often than before, enjoying the library and the music room. The Gardens would be off-limits for a while yet, the tree planted in Didyme’s honour still blooming strong every year due to Aro’s careful upkeep and too much for his heart, his eyes. It was while admiring a painting in the hall that he came across you.

“Surely, after the length of your stay with us, you have seen this piece before?” his voice was soft, a slight rasp from the disuse and lack of satisfaction in his life that had lasted so long it was difficult to get rid of it. He felt like a schoolboy when you smiled at him, and for once he embraced the feeling rather than trying to shun it.

“I have, still it amazes me.” You confessed.

“There are larger pieces.” He mused.

“Size does not guarantee quality.” Your response was accompanied by a cheeky smile that made his own lips twitch upward, that ghost of a smile upon on his lips making you sigh contentedly. Twice in one day? It must have been vampire Christmas. For a while, you stood in silence and contemplated the painting before you. It was a simple piece of artwork, the Tuscan countryside interrupted by a quaint little cottage.

“What do you see?” Marcus asked you quietly. Head tilting, you hummed thoughtfully.

“I see peace.” You voice was decisive and he couldn’t help but frown. Peace? He had studied art a lot over the centuries and he had to admit, he had never once looked at this piece twice as something he could profoundly evaluate. It was a field, it was a cottage, it was…something that felt very literal in what it was.

“Peace?” he questioned.

You hummed. “The colours are so warm, and the hills just keep rolling. This landscape stretches forever, an endless path of golden light. There is always something to look forward to ahead but so much beauty around that cottage that you would be equally as happy to stay in that moment. To be able to see the beauty in what’s around us…that is the key to peace to me.”

Marcus could only stare at the painting, trying to see what you saw. He had seen nothing but grey for so long that the warm colours still felt faded. He couldn’t really remember what true peace felt like until he became brave enough to stand beside you. You radiated it. You were so content in life it was impossible not to feel the peace of mind you carried with you everywhere you went.

“What do you see?” you asked him. He didn’t dare stare into those wine-red eyes, sure his words would flee him. Marcus cleared his throat slightly, contemplating what to say. The truth was, he hadn’t seen anything in art ever since he began to study it. He had never seen metaphors or symbolism. Art had the potential to be beautiful and breath-taking but he had lost his ability to see it, until recently. There was…something, he realised, the more he stared at it.

“I see a cottage,” he said slowly, “But it is plain. Plain yet…surrounded by warmth. Isolated, and yet beautiful…it is…it feels as though, it could be home.” There was a deafening silence after he spoke, his words carrying more weight than he had first realised, weight you clearly felt. Marcus had lived in darkness, in agony and despair, in shadows, but with you there was light, joy, and beauty. He could live that way again if you allowed him the chance to. He could find that beautiful home in you. His hand was slow, reaching for yours. For a while the tip of his little finger touching the side of your hand was all he felt, not brave enough to go any further but so desperate to. When your fingers twitched, curling around his own to link your pinkies and hold his hand loosely, he knew instinctually that you wouldn’t let go. You would help him take that last step into the light. He didn’t need to be afraid.

“Master-“

“Marcus,” he amended softly, “I wish for you to call me Marcus.”

You nodded. “Marcus, then.”

A startled little laugh escaped him, because Didyme had once said the exact same thing to him. Unknowingly, you had replicated their very first exchange. Surprised red eyes stared up at him – you had never heard him laugh before. He seemed just as shocked since he wasn’t sure he was capable of such a sound anymore.

“You…you are so like her.” he sighed wistfully. In an ideal world she would be here, but…wasn’t this ideal? A second chance was unheard of amongst their kind and he was desperate to grasp it with both hands, but he feared holding too tight and shattering the hope he was unknowingly placing in you.

"Her? I...oh...Marcus..." you trailed off. Marcus finally met your eyes, the depth of sadness in his expression something you knew now you would never be able to fully alleviate, but you could meet him in the sea of his despair and keep him afloat, couldn’t you? This kind man deserved better.

“Forgive me. I had no wish to startle you, but you remind me so much of…of Didyme.” He whispered. Your expression softened, but there was no pity there, no sympathy, only gratitude. His honesty was applaudable and the courage it must have taken to say her name, that he felt safe enough to attempt such a feat with you of all people…you were grateful. Grateful to share this quiet moment with a man you had come to greatly admire, grateful to be held in such high esteem by him.

“That makes me truly happy to hear.” you confessed. Marcus frowned, looking confused.

“It does?” he questioned. You smiled, giving your interlocked fingers the slightest squeeze. Marcus slid his palm against your own, fully taking hold of your hand now he was more confident his affections were not about to be rejected.

“The day I arrived you looked so sad. I asked around, not wanting to say anything I shouldn’t and upset you further. The tales I heard, the descriptions I was given…it is an honour to think I might remind you of her in even the smallest of ways.” Your reassurance was like a warm blanket. Feeling cocooned and safe, he lifted your intertwined hands to brush the lightest of kisses against your knuckles. The tender gesture would have made you blush if you still had the ability.

“She was truly a miracle in my life, yet for all the ways you remind me of her, you seem to have just as many differences between you two,” he murmured, “I confess…I admire the reflection of her I see in you, but I love the little things that mark you as separate from her. It felt wrong to do so, yet I could not help it.” Pursing your lips, you tried to calm your racing thoughts as Marcus watched you for any hint of reaction. He had been open and honest, taken a brave step, and he needed you to meet him halfway lest he retreat back into the shadows. Living in hope was no foreign thing for you and you didn’t just meet him halfway, you anchored him in that hope so he might never retreat again.

“It would be a privilege to help you remember what it is like to be loved.” You assured him. Marcus gave you another small smile. Over time, those smiles grew and grew until they crinkled his eyes at the corners. Some days he laughed. On one rare occasion you had gotten him to dance with you in the music room to the record playing on the gramophone. Bit by bit the light returned to his eyes until he beamed so brightly when he saw you that it was obvious to everyone the Marcus they had once known had been partially revived. Grief was a constant companion but it no longer crippled him, and in the safety of your embrace Marcus felt so far from the shadows he was certain for the first time in centuries that he was finally free of them.

[rahleeyah]

Hi! I want to tell you I am in awe of your writing. It’s powerful and moving and so true to characters. I’m always curious…what is your writing “process?” If you don’t mind me asking!

Oh this is a great question!!! We haven't had a writing question in a while.

My process is not something I usually think about; when I first saw this question I was about to say something like mostly what I do is I just sit very still and let the words come out. And that's true but not fair; that's only one piece of the puzzle.

The first piece is routine. I write at the same time every day. Weekdays it's first thing when I come home from work, weekends it's first thing when I wake up. Always the same time, always sitting in the same place - on my porch, away from distractions, with fresh air and a glass of water and some smokes. That last part is not recommended.

It is hard to write if I miss a few days. One day is fine, but if I go more than 2-3 (which I don't think I've done since Christmas) I'll be out of step and it'll take a while to get back in the groove. So that's the practical part, is I've got a time and space set aside to write and that makes it easier.

The next piece I guess is where the ideas come from. I rewatch a lot. I find watching helps me keep the character voices, but it also helps me make new connections or find new moments to explore. I'll post thoughts here or share them with friends and the back and forth helps flesh things a lot. Most of the time an idea for a story is like a lightning strike; it feels as if it's come out of nowhere. But it isn't completely organic; I spend a lot of time thinking about ideas. In the shower, in the car, before bed, in snippets on tumblr. You have to cultivate the idea generating part of your brain. Sometimes I'll play with a story in my head for weeks and it won't go anywhere; sometimes the whole thing just appears fully formed in my brain like Jesus air dropped it to me. But you gotta be open to the spirit before the spirit can move you, you know?

So we have a place to write and we have an idea, how do we make a story?

A story is like a road. It is going from point A to point B and we gotta lay the pavers to get there. A story like hov is easy; it's set in canon so there's episodes to draw from, and there's a clear linear progression from not pregnant to pregnant to baby. There's a time frame and there's built in milestones. Something like let's take long way down, madam Jean, for example, is gonna be totally different, bc it isn't set in canon and there is no roadmap to get from strangers to happily ever after.

A lot of the time I don't look at the big picture bc it's overwhelming. It feels insurmountable, if I think about how many chapters it'll take and how much time it'll take. I'm eating this elephant one bite at a time, just like my mama said. So we write the first scene. The first paver that goes down is the Problem.

Not to be all freshman English class but every story is centered on conflict. Those conflicts can be anything; it doesn't have to be a "fight", an actual literally good guy vs bad guy. It just has to be an issue. Liv is pregnant but Elliot is her partner and they're not supposed to sleep together. Lucien works for the police but he's intrigued by the local madam. Eli doesn't know who Liv is and he's worried about his dad. Bernie Stabler shows up unannounced. All of these are Problems.

Once we have a Problem, we can start working on the Solution. We do this one step at a time. We do not rush.

So every day, I read over the last chapter I wrote. Where are we, what's happened, what are the Conflicts, what is the next logical step? How do we address it in one scene?

Lucien saw the madam, and she asked him to look after a pregnant girl. Ok now he has to go back to the brothel in the next chapter. That moves the timeline forward and moves us closer to the end goal, bc while Lucien is looking after the girl he talks to Jean, and we plant the seeds of them falling in love. It also gives us one piece of action to work on, one moment in time to write. I sit down, I write Lucien going to the brothel, I write him examining the girl and talking to Jean, boom there's one scene we're done. We tie those two things together; logical progression of Plot events, and the emotional undercurrent. I like it best when a chapter has both.

Themes come out naturally most of the time. Matrilineal, for example, was just me sitting down to write about Bernie and I used Amanda bc I love an outside pov. But as I was writing I'm thinking you know, Amanda has a complicated relationship with her mom. Shit, so does Liv. And they're both mothers now. And so is Bernie. And the emotional threads come out naturally as a result of who these people are. The piece wasn't gonna be about mothers but then it became obvious that it had to be.

Motifs appear the same way. The first chapter of bury my heart, I used this is love. That wasn't originally intentional, but when I did it the second time I thought there it is, and kept using it, and that's where the gut punch of the final line comes from; the meaning has changed from joy to sorrow and it is only impactful bc of the repetition and our previous connection to it.

I use a lot of imagery, and a lot of it tends to be religious - Jean is very Catholic, and so is Elliot, so for both Blake and svu there's room to play with it there. I like similes, I like metaphors, I like synecdoche - there's a fun one. I like to play with putting words together in different ways but that stuff doesn't happen in the car, or the shower, or on my lunch break; that usually only happens when I'm writing. I have to sit down and be still and let my brain go.

Conflict, themes, motifs, images, characters, these are the ingredients that make a story. And the more you work with them the easier they come. It just takes practice. But one of the best ways to improve is to read. See what's possible. See how other people have put words together. Someone commented once about how sometimes I say a lot with very few words; that is something I picked up from two very different places. Stephen King is great about short, simple, powerful sentences that knock your socks off. And there's a recurring line in my favorite series, the Belgariad, where when things are bad the man character goes to his aunt, who has raised him since he was a baby and is essentially his mother, and she holds him, and everything was all right again. It is a simple, repeated phrase about love, and comfort, and how no matter how terrifying the world can be, love brings healing and hope. There are quotes scattered throughout my work. Olivia quotes Heraclitus to herself in bury my heart; yes I am a classics major but my connection to that quote comes from the film the emperor's club. Inspiration is everywhere; draw on all of it.

This is. Probably more information than you were looking for but once I got started I couldn't stop.